HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE 


DELIVERED    AT 


AMHERST,    N.    H 


HUNDREDTH  ANNIVEESARY 


|}^tlitatian  4  ^¥  Ctinjrcjnlionnl  J^tdinj^K^u^i}, 


BY  THE  PASTOR,  J.  G.  DAVIS; 


With  Shcetches  of  Persons,  Places,  and  Churches  connected  with 

the  parish  originally  called  Souhegan  West,  by  Rev.  A. 

Heald,  S.  H.  Keeler,  D.D.,  W.  B.  Towne, 

and    D.   F.  Become,   Esquires. 


CONCORD,  N.  H.  : 

PRI^NTED    BY   THE    REPUBLICAN   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

1874. 


&2r 


FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 


REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.  D.  D. 


BEQUEATHED   BY  HIM   TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


N>" 


^  MAR  23  1932 

HISTORICAL  DISCOUR^, 


DELIVERED    AT 


AMHERST,    N.    H., 


HUNDREDTH  ANNIVERSARY 


^«li(irtifftt  4  \\t  |mtiiw(iati(tital  Jwliit^lfittts^, 


BY  THE  PASTOR,  J.  G.  DAVIS; 


With  sketches  of  Persons,  Places,  and  Churches  connected  with 

the  parish  originally  called  Souhegan  West,  by  Rev.  A. 

Heald,  S.  H.  Keeler,  D.D.,  W.  B.  Towne, 

and   D.  F.  Secomb,  Esquires. 


CONCORD,  N.  H.: 

PRINTED   BY   THE    REPUBLICAN   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 
1874. 


Amherst,  Jan'y  26,  1874. 
Rev.  Dr.  Davis: — 

Dear  Sir,— The  undersigned,  having  heard,  with  great  satisfaction, 
your  address  commemorative  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of 
the  dedication  of  the  church,  and  feeling  that  it  should  be  put  in 
form  for  jDreservation,  earnestly  request  a  copy  for  publication.  A 
general  desire  is  also  expressed  that  the  other  valuable  and  interesting 
historical  papers  presented  on  that  occasion  may  be  printed  with  the 
discourse. 

Wm.  a.  Mack,  H.  E.  Woodbury, 

David  Fisk,  William  Pratt, 

Luther  Elliott,  George  Daxforth, 

Aaron  S.  Wilkins,         Levi  J,  Secomb, 
Geo.  W.  Bosworth,        Z.  Perry, 
William  Wethkrbee. 


Amherst,  Jan'y  27,  1874. 
Gentlemen, — 

In  compliance  with  the  request,  so  kindly  expressed  in  your  commu- 
nication of  the  26th,  I  submit  the  manuscript  of  my  discourse  to  your 
disposal.  The  history  is  by  no  means  complete,  but,  connected  with 
the  other  papers  that  you  propose  to  print  under  the  same  covers,  will 
serve  to  keep  alive  the  memory  of  the  fathers,  and  thus  quicken  our 
gratitude  to  God  for  the  great  benefits  conferred  on  us  through  their 
toils.  With  sincere  esteem, 

Yours,  J.  G.  Davis. 

To  William  A.  Mack,  Esq., 
David  Fisk,  and  others. 


IlSrTEODUCTIOK 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Congregational  Church,  held  Nov.  18,  1873,  it 
was  Voted,  That  the  officers  of  the  church,  with  Messrs.  Levi  J.  Secomb 
and  Jotham  Hartshorn,  be  a  committee  to  learn  the  wishes  of  citizens 
and  church  members,  and  ascertain  whether  it  be  expedient  to  observe 
the  centennial  of  the  dedication  of  the  Congregational  meeting-house, 
which  occurred  Jan.  19,  1774. 

This  committee  met  at  Dea.  Boylston's  on  the  25th,  and  decided 
that  it  is  expedient  to  commemorate  the  dedication  of  the  meeting- 
house, by  a  sermon  and  other  appropriate  exercises.  It  was  subse- 
quently determined  to  obtain  sketches  of  the  history  of  other  churches 
which  have  been  organized  within  the  original  limits  of  Amherst,  as  Mil- 
ford,  Mt.  Vernon,  and  the  Baptist^  and  Methodist  churches  in  town. 
Invitations  were  accordingly  issued  to  pastors  and  others  to  furnish 
sketches  of  churches  and  deceased  persons,  with  historical  reminis- 
cences suited  to  the  occasion.  Services  were  assigned  to  Sunday  the 
18th,  and  to  Monday  p.  m.  of  the  19th  of  January,  when  the  Methodist 
and  Baptist  societies,  and  the  congregation  from  Mt.  Vernon,  united 
with  the  parent  church  in  the  worship  of  God  in  the  old  meeting-house. 

The  day  was  pleasant,  and  the  sleighing  excellent.  The  house  was 
filled  in  every  part,  the  aisles  being  furnished  with  extra  seats. 

The  services  of  the  morning  opened  with  the  doxology;  invocation 
and  reading  of  the  scriptures  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ruland;  prayer  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Keeler;  and  singing  1st  version  of  the  78th  psalm, — 

"  Let  children  hear  the  mighty  deeds 
Which  God  performed  of  old  "—Tate  Sf  Brady— 

followed  by  the  historical  discourse,  and  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Clark. 

In  the  afternoon,  after  singing,  and  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Heald.  the 
salutations  of  the  Methodist  church  were  presented  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ruland 
in  a  cordial  address,  when  Rev.  Mr.  Heald  read  his  sketch  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  and  Dr.  Keeler  followed  with  the  history  of  the  church  in 
Mt.  Vernon. 

The  next  day  a  large  audience  assembled  in  the  Town  Hall,  at  1 


o'clock  p.  M.,  the  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  presiding.  Rev. 
Mr.  Ileald  offered  prayer,  when,  in  answer  to  a  call  from  tlfe  chair. 
Hod.  Win.  B.  Towne  gave  a  succinct  history  of  the  origin  of  the  town 
of  Miiford,  the  organization  of  the  church,  and  the  services  of  its 
ministers. 

In  response  to  some  remarks  on  the  life  and  services  of  Daniel  Camp- 
bell, Esq.,  one  of  the  early  settlers,  Hon.  Chas.  H.  Campbell,  of  Nashua, 
made  a  spirited  address,  abounding  in  choice  anecdotes  of  the  olden 
times,  with  grateful  reminiscences  of  his  ancestors  and  other  respected 
citizens  living  in  the  neighborhood,  establishing  a  claim*  in  behalf  of 
the  beautiful  swell  of  land,  which  these  men  and  their  descendants  have 
occupied  for  nearly  a  century,  to  be  called  the  Moderator's  Hill. 

To  this  address  succeeded  the  reading  of  interesting  memorials  of 
departed  worthies  and  their  times,  by  D.  F.  Secomb.  Esq.,  of  Concord, 
the  son  of  John  and  brother  of  Levi  J.  Secomb,  whose  names  are  as- 
sociated with  long  terms  of  service  in  important  offices  of  the  town. 

The  exercises  were  enlivened  by  cheery  songs  of  the  Apollo  Club 
from  Nashua.  With  a  few  earnest  words  from  Dea.  Boylston  on  the 
importance  of  making  provision  for  the  publication  of  a  history  of  the 
town,  the  meeting  was  closed. 

In  the  evening  an  organ  concert  was  given  by  Geo.  H.  Ryder,  of 
Boston,  in  which  he  was  aided  by  Miss  H.  A.  Russell,  Mr.  Merrill  and 
his  club,  with  the  new  instrument  he  had  set  up  the  week  previous  in  the 
meeting-house.  In  concluding  this  sketch  of  the  commemorative  ser- 
vices, it  is  due  to  the  authors  of  the  several  papers,  now  printed,  to  say 
that  they  are  not  as  complete  as  they  intended.  The  time  for  prepara- 
tion was  too  short  for  extensive  research  or  exhaustive  treatment.  In 
giving  the  sermon  and  sketches  to  the  press,,  they  are  influenced  by  a 
desire  to  place  these  fragments  of  history  in  a  form  in  which  the  ma- 
terials may  be  preserved  for  the  more  thorough  and  comprehensive 
treatment  which  the  good  name  and  services  of  Amherst,  Mt.  Vernon, 
and  Miiford  deserve. 


*  The  claim  is  justified  by  the  fact  that  six  indi\-iduals,  belonging  to  three  families  in 
that  school  district,  have  served  as  moderators  at  forty-one  of  the  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  annual  town  meetings  held  since  the  incorporation  of  the  town.  The  same  per- 
sons have  served  fifty-seven  years  on  the  board  of  selectmen,  and  represented  the  town 
fourteen  years  in  the  general  court.  They  are  Daniel  Campbell,  Daniel  Campbell,  Jr., 
Charles  li.  Campbell.  John  Secomb,  Levi  J.  Secomb,  and  William  A.  Mack.  s. 


DISCOURSE 


JOHN  4 :  38.   *  *  *   other  men  laboured,  and  ye  are 

ENTERED  INTO  THEIR  LABORS. 

HAGGAI  2:9.  The  glory  of  this  latter  house  shall  be 
greater  than  of  the  former,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 

1  KINGS  8 :  57.  The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us,  as  he  was 
with  our  fathers.     Let  him  not  leave  us  nor  forsake  us. 

The  great  law  of  human  progress,  bj  which  one  generation 
enters  on  tlie  labors  of  the  preceding,  and  profits  by  its  toil, 
has  manifold  illustrations.  There  was  a  preparation  for  the 
specific  mission  of  the  apostles,  in  the  results  wrought  out  by 
the  counsels  and  experience  of  prophets  and  teachers  who 
were  commissioned  before  them.  Each  age  gathers  wisdom 
from  the  labors  and  researches  of  the  preceding  age.  In  ev- 
ery science,  and  in  every  art,  we  are  constrained  to  acknowl- 
edge our  indebtedness  to  the  genius  and  industry  of  depart- 
ed generations.  So  Is  it  in  respect  to  social  customs,  relig- 
ious institutions,  and  all  the  essential  features  of  our  civiliza- 
tion. We  have  but  taken  up  and  carried  forward  the  work 
which  our  fathers  laid  down. 

One  of  the  most  important  uses  of  historical  discourses  and 
commemorations  is,  to  teach  us  what  we  owe  to  the  past ;  to 
bring  to  mind  the  conditions  of  hardship  and  toil;  the  enter- 
prise and  patient  industry  by  which  our  present  prosperity 
was  attained.  Without  some  effort  of  this  kind,  by  which 
we  reproduce  the  lives  and  labors  of  those  who  have  gone  be- 
fore us,  we  shall  not  adequately  value  the  heritage  on  which 


6 

we  have  entered,  and  by  which  we  are  so  richly  endowed. 
The  event  which  we  commemorate  this  day  is  not  in  itself 
so  remarkable  as  to  deserve  special  notice.     The  dedication 
of  a  house,  erected  for  public  worship  at  this  day,  has  seldom 
any  wide  interest  beyond  the  gratification  of  those  who  are 
to  be  accommodated  beneath  its  roof.     But  this  was  not  the 
sentiment  a  hundred  years  ago.     The  erection  of  a  meeting- 
house, in  the  early  history  of  the  New  England  towns,  was 
memorable  as  the  result  of  a  purpose  to  honor  God  in  cir- 
cumstances of  hardship  and  destitution.     It  was  accomplished 
amidst  difficulties,  and  with   an  outlay  of  time  and    labor 
which  was  a  heavy  tax  on  the  inhabitants.     The   building  of 
lofty  height,  which  was  usually  planted  on  some  eminence,  was 
the  exponent  of  an  idea  that  entered  into  and  fashioned  the 
character    of  the    people.     It   was  not  merely    an    expres- 
sion of  religious  feeling,  but  an  expression   of  the    principle 
that  religion  is  to  be  maintained   by  the  keeping  of  Sab- 
baths, and  regular  public  instruction  in  the  doctrines  of  the 
Bible.     When  we  learn  that  the  grantees  of  the  Narragan- 
sett  township  were  required  "  to  pass  such  rules  and  orders 
as  will  effectually  oblige  them  to  settle  sixty  families,  at  least, 
in  each   township,  with  a  learned  and   orthodox  ministry, 
within  the  space  of  seven  years  from  the  date  of  this  grant," 
and  when  we  learn  that  "  if  the  said  grantees  shall  not  effec- 
tually settle  the  said  number  of  families  in  each  township, 
and  also  lay  out  a  lot  for  the  first  settled  minister,  one  for 
the  ministry,  and   one  for  the  school  in  each  of  said  town- 
ships, they  shall  have  no  advantage  of,  but  forfeit  their  re- 
spective grants," — it  is  obvious  that,  in  the  minds  of  those 
legislators,  education  and  religion  were  held  essential  to  the 
well-being  of  society ;  that  in  peopling  a  township  there  was 
a  necessity  of  providing  for  the  education   of  children,  and 
for  the  religious  culture  and  worship  of  all  the  inhabitants. 
If  these  ideas  could  not  be  realized,  they  were  not  disposed 
to  encourage  new  settlements. 

It  has  been  alleged  that  the  members  of  the  Massachusetts 


government,  in  making  these  grants,  "were  influenced  more 
by  motives  of  policy  tlian  those  of  benevolence,"  as  "they 
wished  to  retain  property  in  the  lands,  in  case  the  jurisdic- 
tion was  taken  away."  That  considerations  of  this  nature 
were  active  in  promoting  these  grants  may  be  admitted.  To 
suppose  tliat  these  settlements  would  be  undertaken  without 
any  prospect  of  personal  advantage,  is  to  assume  a  superhu- 
man virtue  in  our  ancestors  to  which  they  made  no  claims. 
The  commendable  feature  of  the  transaction  is,  that,  having  in 
view  the  acquisition  of  landed  property,  they  did  not  overlook 
nor  neglect  the  higher  conditions  that  respected  the  service 
of  God  and  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  emigrants.  The  per- 
sons to  whom  the  grant  No.  3,  at  Souhegan  AVest,  was  made, 
lived  in  Essex  county,  Massachusetts;  and,  as  few  of  the 
original  proprietors  came  into  New  Hampshire,  the  harmony 
of  their  action  in  accepting  the  trust  is  the  more  noticeable. 
It  is  with  some  diffidence*  that  I  attempt  to  describe  the 
movements  of  the  first  settlers.  The  early  landmarks  have 
disappeared ;  and  it  is  not  easy  to  reproduce  the  scenes  in 
which  they  planted  their  habitations.  To  men  employed  in 
subjugating  the  forests,  clearing  lots,  making  roads,  and 
rearing  log  houses,  there  was  no  leisure,  and  little  disposi- 
tion, to  make  careful  records  of  the  place  and  progress  of 
their  occupations.  The  first  settlement  in  the  territory  was 
made  in  1734,  the  same  year  in  which  the  proprietors  held 
their  first  meeting  at  Salem  Village  (now  Danvers),  Mass. 
The  emigrants  were  mainly  from  the  towns  of  Essex  county : 
at  a  later  period  valuable  accessions  to  the  population  came 
from  Middlesex  county.  On  taking  possession  of  the  town- 
ship in  1735, — after  a  plan  which  distributed  the  soil  into 


*  The  author  desires  to  acknowledge  his  indebtedness  to  Dea.  E.  D.  Boylston  for  the 
use  of  original  letters  and  other  valuable  MSS.  from  his  private  collections,  with  the 
loan  of  the  "  Proprietors'  Records"  belonging  to  Hon.  C.  H.  Campbell.  His  thanks 
are  due  to  D.  F.  Secomb,  Esq.,  of  Concord,  for  many  anecdotes  of  the  early  inhabi- 
tants, with  copies  of  papers  from  the  archives  of  the  state.  Edward  Spalding,  m.d,, 
and  William  B.  Towne,  Esq.,  have  also  aided  him  by  personal  recollections  and  other 
information. 


8 

three  sections,  with    sub-divisions  into  lots  of  sixty  acres 
each, — the   proprietors    vote  "to  lay  out  a  place  whereon 
to   erect  a  meeting-house;"    and,  in  August  of  the  same 
year,  they  also  vote  "to  build."     A  meeting-house  would  be 
of  little   use  without   worshippers.     We    accordingly   read 
of    appropriations,  to   induce   people    to   move   hither   and 
take  up  lands.     At  first,  a  grant  is  made  of  £6  to  each 
settler   on    clearing    two    acres  of    land,   and  the   comple- 
tion of  a  house  18x18,  and   7  feet  stud, — a  grant  subse- 
quently  increased   to    X20    to    actual   settlers.     This   will 
explain  the  delay  in  executing  the  earlier  votes.     The  way 
was  not  prepared.     Openings  must  be- made  in  the  forests, 
the  soil  broken,  and  crops  raised,  before  men  and  materials 
could  be  had    for  the  house   of  worship.     In   February  of 
1737-38,  the  subject  is  brought  up  anew,  and  they  decide 
"  to  build  a  house  forty-five  feet  in  length,  thirty-five   in 
width,  and  twenty-two  feet  stud," — a  structure  of  generous 
proportions  for  that  period,  answering  in  its  area  to  one  half 
of  the  room  we  now  occupy.     They  proposed  to  cover  the 
outside  and  erect  a  pulpit  within  twelve  months,  and  £3 
per  right  was  assessed  on  tlie  proprietors  to  pay  for  the  same. 
This  house,  which  was  located  on  the  rising  ground  at  the 
junction  of  the  roads  then  leading  to  Bedford  and  through 
the  west  parish  to  New  Boston,  was  actually  raised  in  May 
of  1739,  when  Capt.  Ebenezer  Raimond  was  instructed  to 
provide  entertainment    for    the   raising, — a   laborious   and 
somewhat  dangerous  undertaking.     In  that  year,  the  inhabi- 
tants  were  authorized   to    draw    £20   from    the   treasury 
"  towards  their  having  the  word  of  God  preached  among 
them  for  the  next  six  mos.,"  which  was  supplemented  by 
another  grant  of  £20  in  July,  to  pay  for  preaching  till  next 
March,  "  if  they  bring  the  men's  names  that  preached  ten 
days," — a  somewhat  ambiguous  condition,  but  intended,  I 
assume,  to  prevent  a  misapplication  of  the   money,  as,  in 
December,  they  adopted  a  different  rule,  by  which  "  50  shil- 
lings was  voted  for  each  Sabbath  they  shall  have  preaching 


9 

among  them."     Without  certain  information,  it  is  doubtful 
whether   preaching  was  maintained  with  much  regularity. 
According  to  a  tradition,  the  thirteentli  family  that  settled 
in  the  township  was  that  of  Mr.  (afterward  Rev.)  Daniel 
Wilkins  (Harvard  col.,  1736).     He  came  with  his  wife  from 
Middleton,  Mass.,  in  compliance  with  the  solicitations  of 
tlie  families  that  came  here  from  that  place  and  vicinity. 
This  was  in  1740 ;  and  in  April  of  the  following  year,  the 
proprietors  concur  in  the  action   of  the  settlers  in  desiring 
Mr.  Wilkins  to  become  their  minister,  "  provided  we  can 
agree  with  him  for  salary  and  settlement."     The  negotiations 
resulted  favorably,  and  in   August  they  vote  to  accept  the 
repDrt  of  the  committee  "  that  was  chosen  to  treat  with  Mr. 
Daniel  Wilkins  about  salary  and  settlement."     At  the  same 
meeting  a  committee  was  chosen  "  to  take  care  of  the  ordi- 
nation," with  instructions  "  not  to  exceed  £40,  but  as  much 
less  as  they  can."     Tliis  committee  was  also  to  designate 
"  the  time  and  advise  the  clerk,  that  he  may  put  it  into  the 
newspaper."     On  the   22d  of  September,  1741,  the  church 
was   organized,  and  six  males,  including   the  pastor  elect, 
subscribed    the    covenant,  which,    with    slight    alterations, 
abides  in  use  unto  this  day.     The  covenant  contained  six 
articles,  presenting  a  concise  and  admirable  statement  of 
Christian  duty.*     No  confession  of  faith  was  required  ;  and, 
after  repeated  inquiries,  I  have  never  been  able  to  learn  at 
what  time,  or  by  whose  counsel,  the   articles  of  faith  now 
prefixed  to  the  covenant  were  adopted.     On  the  next  day, 
September   23d,  Rev.  Daniel  Wilkins  was  ordained  pastor, 
by  a  council  of  five  ministers  and  fourteen  lay  delegates,  of 
whom  the  church  in  Middleton,  from  which  Mr.  Wilkins 
came,  sent  five,  and  the  church  in  Dunstable  three.     Rev. 
IlTathaniel  Henchman,  of  Lynn,  was  moderator  of  the  coun- 


*  The  only  rules  adopted  by  the  church  besides  this  covenant,  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  are  the  following:  In  1750,  ''Voted,  That  no  persons  should  have  the  privilege 
of  baptism  for  their  children,  without  a  certificate  from  the  church  to  which  they 
belonged."  In  1757,  "  Voted,  That  the  satisfaction  for  all  public  offences  shall  be  equal 
to  the  crimes.'' 


10 

cil,  and  Eev.  Stephen  Chase,  of  Lynn,  preached  the  sermon. 
The  prayer  of  ordination  was  probably  offered  by  Rev.  An- 
drew Peters,  of  Middleton, — the  other  parts  of  tlie  service 
falling  to  Eev.  James  Osgood,  of  Wenham,  Mass.,  and  Rev. 
Josiah  Swan,  of  Dunstable.  Immediately  after  the  ordina- 
tion, six  females  were  admitted  to  church  membership, 
Sarah  Wilkin s,  the  wife  of  the  pastor,  being  of  the  number. 
But  where,  we  ask,  v/ere  the  services  of  installation  held  ? 
Did  the  people  gather  in  some  opening  of  the  forest,  amidst 
"  the  sounding  aisles  of  the  dim  woods  ?"  Did  the  fathers 
find  a  sanctuary  in  the  unfinished  apartment  of  a  log  house  ? 
Possibly  they  found  accommodation  "in  the  convenient 
house  of  entertainment"  which  Capt.  Richard  Mower  was 
to  build,  in  consideration  of  lot  No.  25,  of  which  he  was  to 
have  sure  title;  perhaps  a  shelter  was  found  within  the 
frame  of  the  meeting-house,  which  might  have  been  covered 
with  boughs  or  boards  for  the  occasion.  We  cannot  answer 
the  question,  concerning  which  we  may  well  be  curious,  as 
somewhat  to  our  amazement  we  read,*  more  than  two  years 
after  the  installation,  "that  the  committee  to  be  chosen  get 
the  meeting-house  boarded,  and  the  floor  laid,  the  body  seats 
made  up,  and  the  pulpit  made,  and  the  doors  made  and 
hung,  as  soon  as  can  be."  In  February  following  (1744), 
they  vote  "  that  they  will  do  something  towards  finishing 
the  meeting-house,  viz.,  to  clapboard  it,  and  make  the  win- 
dow frames,  crown  and  glaze  them,  to  point  the  ground- 
pointing,  and  prime  the  flew-boards,  window  frames,  sashes, 
and  doors ;  and  in  case  there  is  not  an  Indian  war  next  fall, 
to  lath  and  plaster  the  meeting-house,  as  the  committee 
shall  think  best."  These  votes  were  doubtless  carried  into 
effect  during  the  next  summer,  so  far  as  to  exclude  the  wind 
and  snow,  as  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  is  called  at  the 
meeting-house  early  in  the  year  1745.  But  what  a  picture 
these  votes  suggest  to  the  imagination,  of  the   privations 

*  Proprietor's  Records,  Oct.  18th,  1743. 


11 

and  hardship  of  the  early  inhabitants.  If  tlie  ordination 
took  place  on  the  site  of  the  meeting-house,  they  had  at 
the  best  only  a  roof  over  their  heads.  The  population  of 
the  township  could  not  have  exceeded  twenty  families,  and 
they  over-worked  by  clearing  lands,  building  barns,  houses, 
fences,  and  making  pathways  through  the  forests.  Money 
w^as  scarce,  and  the  currency  continually  depreciating.  Yet 
they  endured  hardness  as  good  soldiers, — the  pastor  giving 
an  example  to  his  flock,  putting  his  hand  to  the  axe  and  the 
plough,  sharing  all  the  exposures  of  his  brethren.  And 
these  exposures  were  such  as  might  dishearten  brave  men. 
On  their  scattered  farms  they  were  much  annoyed  by  wild 
beasts.  Wolves  prowled  about  their  pathways,  and  preyed 
upon  their  sheep ;  at  times  the  bears  caused  them  much 
trouble ;  but  these  perils  were  soon  aggravated  by  apprehen- 
sions of  more  deadly  foes. 

Fortunately  for  the  townships  lying  back  from  the  Mer- 
rimack river,  the  Indian  population  had  not  been  numerous. 
Whether  wasted  by  disease,  or  driven  back  by  earlier  con- 
flicts, the  region  which  the  settlers  entered  had  been  deserted 
by  the  aborigines.  Before  the  announcement  of  war  be- 
tween France  and  England,  the  allies  of  the  former  had  been 
excited  to  hostilities  by  emissaries  of  the  same  power  that 
provoked  the  expedition  against  Louisbourg.  Working  south- 
ward from  the  Canadas,  the  Indians  hovered  about  the  infant 
settlements,  capturing  and  slaying  the  inhabitants,  and  burn- 
ing their  dwellings  wherever  they  were  unprotected.  In 
this  exigency  the  inhabitants  of  Souhegan  West  procured 
ammunition,  and  proceeded  to  fortify  their  dwellings  and 
make  provision  for  defence  against  the  assailants.  They 
also  held  a  meeting  at  the  house  of  their  pastor,  in  which 
they  unanimously  agreed  that  Daniel  Wilkins,  in  the  name 
and  behalf  of  the  settlers  of  this  plantation,  should  repre- 
sent to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  the  Province  of  New- 
Hampshire  "  our  distressing  circumstances,  on  account  of 
our  exposure  to  the   French   and   Indian   enemy.''      They 


12 

needed  defence  while  about  tlieir  work.  The  petition  pre- 
pared by  Rev.  Mr.  Wilkins  was  presented  at  Portsmouth, 
June  22,  1744,  and— 

"  Humbly  sheweth  the  said  town  has  been  settled  by  his 
majesty's  subjects  about  nine  years,  and  a  gospel  minister 
ordained  almost  three  years ;  that  the  settlers  have  an  eye 
at  enlarging  his  majesty's  dominions,  by  going  into  the  wil- 
derness, as  well  as  their  own  interest ;  that  some  thousands 
of  pounds  has  been  spent  in  clearing  and  cultivating  the 
lands  there,  and  vast  sums  in  building  houses,  barns,  and 
fences,  besides  much  time  and  expense  in  building  fortifica- 
tions, by  His  Excellency  the  Governor's  order. 

"  That  the  breaking  up  of  the  settlement  will  not  only 
ruin  the  memorialists,  but  greatly  disserve  his  majesty's 
interest  by  encouraging  his  enemies  to  encroach  on  his  de- 
serted settlements,  and  be  also  hurtful  to  the  province  by 
contracting  the  borders  and  drawing  the  war  nearer  the 
capital. 

"  That  it  was  by  a  long  and  importunate  intercession  of 
this  province  (and  not  of  the  memorialists'  seeking)  that 
they  are  left  under  the  immediate  care  of  this  government, 
which  they  conceive  gives  them  so  much  the  better  right  to 
its  protection. 

''  That  as  war  is  already  declared  against  France,  and  a 
rupture  with  the  Indians  hourly  expected,  your  memorialists, 
unless  they  have  speedy  help,  will  soon  be  obliged  to  forsake 
their  town,  how  disserviceable  soever  it  may  be  to  the  crown, 
dishonorable  to  the  government,  hurtful  to  the  province,  and 
ruinous  to  ourselves. 

"  Wherefore,  your  memoralists  most  humbly  supplicate 
Your  Excellency,  the  Honorable  Council,  and  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives to  take  the  premises  into  your  wise  and  mature 
consideration,  and  to  grant  them  such  reasonable  relief  as 
may  enable  them  to  subsist  in  the  war  and  secure  against 
the  ravages  and  devastations  of  a  bloodthirsty  and  merciless 
enemy :  and  your  memorialists,  as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever 
pray." 


13 

In  his  argument  Mr.  Wikins  insists  that  the  danger  is 
imminent,  and  adroitly  reminds  the  government  that  it  was 
not  of  their  choice  that  they  were  dependent  on  its  protection. 

In  answer  to  this  petition,  scouts  were  provided  for  this 
place,  and  Salem  Canada  (now  Lyndeborough)  on  the  west. 
The  following  year,  at  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  at  Chelms- 
ford, Mass.,  a  motion  was  carried  imposing  "  an  obligation  to 
get  sixty  families  to  settle  in  the  township  immediately,  ac- 
cording to  the  act  of  Massachusetts."  But  with  all  their 
efforts,  it  was  difficult  persuading  men  to  move  up  into  the 
wilderness,  where,  as  yet,  there  was  no  smith  to  sharpen 
their  tools,  no  mill  to  grind  their  corn,  and  the  dread  of 
the  Indians  required  the  inhabitants  to  keep  armed.  In 
May  of  1747,  the  government  having  withdrawn  its  protec- 
tion, a  new  petition  is  forwarded  to  His  Excellency  Benning 
Wentworth,  which  showeth  that  the  plantation  contained 
thirty-five  families,  and  about  fifty-eight  men  upwards  of 
sixteen  years  old : 

"That  when  we  began  our  settlement  we  apprehended  no 
danger  of  our  ever  being  a  frontier,  there  being  at  that  time 
so  many  above  us  begun  and  obligated  to  fulfil  the  conditions 
of  the  Massachusetts  grants,  which  occasioned  us  to  settle 
scattering,  only  regarding  the  advantage  of  good  and  com- 
pact farms. 

"That  the  difficulty  of  war  happening  so  early  on  our  set- 
tlements, and  the  defenceless  condition  they  were  in,  has 
obliged  them  all,  viz.,  Peterborough,  Salem  Canada,  New 
Boston,  and  Hillsborough  (so-called),  entirely  to  draw  off, — 
as  well  as  the  forts  on  Connecticut  river  left  naked, — where- 
by we  are  now  left  as  much  exposed  as  any  of  the  frontiers 
on  Merrimack  river. 

"That  the  first  year  of  the  present  war  we  were  favored 
with  a  scout  from  this  province  (which  we  thankfully  ac- 
knowledge), and  Salem  Canada  with  another,  which  was 
equally  serviceable  to  us.  Since  that  time  both  Salem  Can- 
ada and  this  place  has  had  a  guard  from  the  Massachusetts 


14 

till  the  winter  passed,  together  with  our  iiiliabitants  keeping 
a  constant  scout  (though  much  impoverished  thereby). 

"That  this  encouragement  has  occasioned  our  venturing 
here  till  now. 

''That,  as  we  are  now  left  without  either  scout  or  guard, 
apprehend  we  are  in  imminent  danger,  yet  loath  to  yield  our- 
selves such  an  easy  prey  to  our  enemies,  or  suffer  ruin  by 
leaving  our  improvements  waste, — one  whereof  we  have  no 
reason  to  think  but  must  unavoidably  be  our  lot  unless  the 
government  compassionately  grants  us  protection." 

This  application  for  soldiers  to  protect  the  inhabitants  is 
signed  by  twenty-three  persons  ;  among  whom  appear  the 
names  of  Wilkins,  Shepard,  Peabody,  Hutchinson,  Cheever, 
Howard,  Hartshorn,  Bixbe,  Seetown,  Bradford,  Ellen  wood, 
Clark,  Towne,  Lyon,  Stiles.  These  were  among  the  earliest 
land-owners  ;  and  their  descendants  continue  with  us  unto 
this  day.  The  hardships  of  the  first  settlers  were  not  readily 
mitigated,  as  we  may  infer  from  their  continued  apprehension 
of  attacks  from  the  Indians,  and  the  necessity  of  maintain- 
ing guards  and  scouts  and  ranging  companies  at  suitable  ral- 
lying points  in  the  territory.  Certain  houses  were  entrenched 
by  stockades,  and  the  walls  made  bullet-proof  for  the  shel- 
ter of  women  and  children.  There  were  seven  of  these  gar- 
rison houses,  at  which  a  watch  was  maintained  at  different 
periods.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wilkins  occupied  one  of  the  garrison 
houses,  and  took  his  turn  in  the  watch  which  was  maintained 
by  the  citizens  whenever  an  invasion  was  threatened.  For 
months  in  succession  it  was  the  habit  of  the  men  to  carry 
their  muskets  to  tlie  meeting-house,  to  be  within  reach  and 
ready  to  be  lifted  should  an  alarm  be  given  during  the  ser- 
vice. The  vigilance  they  practised  reminds  us  of  the  pre- 
cautions taken  by  Nehemiah  against  Sanballat  and  Tobiah, 
the  Arabians  and  the  Ammonites, — in  all  which  they  were  en- 
couraged by  the  example  of  the  pastor,  who  came  to  the 
place  of  worship  having  his  gun  in  one  hand  and  his  Bible 
in  the  other.     Both  implements  of  his  warfare  were  taken 


15 

into  the  pulpit.  The  Indians  frequently  came  hither  with 
hostile  intentions  ;  but  the  settlers  usually  obtained  informa- 
tion of  their  designs,  and  no  one  was  killed  or  taken  captive 
from  Amherst.  According  to  a  family  tradition,*  a  party 
under  the  lead  of  Dea.  Hobbsf  fell  in  with  the  Indians,  on  a 
Sunday  morning,  when  a  smart  fight  ensued,  in  which  Hobbs 
displayed  remarkable  courage  and  prudence,  bringing  off  his 
men  with  few  wounded, — none  mortally, — while  they  were 
positive  that  several  Indians  were  killed.  The  result  of 
this  encounter  was  to  give  the  men  great  reputation  for 
bravery  in  circumstances  of  danger.  The  minister  and 
others  used  to  speak  of  the  exploit'  with  great  satisfaction. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  is  reported  that  the  Indians  said  that 
"  Souhegan  deacon  no  very  good, — he  fight  Sabba  day."  The 
danger  and  annoyance  from  the  Indians,  which  Farmer^  as- 
signs to  a  period  commencing  ten  years  later,  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  French  and  Indian  war  in  western  Virginia,  in  1754, 
belongs  in  fact  to  this  earlier  period.  In  the  expeditions 
sent  out  at  the  latter  date  for  the  defence  of  the  colonies 
and  the  conquest  of  Canada,  the  inhabitants  of  Souhegan 
West  shared  with  the  neighboring  towns  in  furnishing  their 
proportion  of  soldiers :  and  on  the  declaration  of  peace  in 
1763,  they  shared  in  the  prevailing  sentiment  of  joy  and 
gratitude  at  the  relief. 

To  return  to  the  immediate  interests  of  the  parish.  It  is 
certain  that  the  intentions  of  the  proprietors  in  completing 
the  meeting-house  were  not  carried  into  full  effect  in  1751, 

*  Contained  in  a  letter  of  Philip  C.  Wilkins,  grandson  of  the  minister. 

t  "January  the  sixth,  1742,  the  church  voted  that  there  be  five  sacraments  within  a 
year,— the  tirst,  the  first  Sabbath  in  March,  the  second,  the  first  Sabbath  in  May,"  and 
thence  bi-monthly.    The  last  sacrament  vs^as  observed  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  November. 

"At  the  same  time  the  church  chose  Humphrey  Hobbs  deacon."  This  oflrice"he 
resigned  in  1744,  and  James  Cochran  was  chosen  in  his  room."  Dea.  Hobbs  seems  to 
have  left  town  soon  after,  as  he  had  command  of  a  company  of  rangers  employed  in 
the  defence  of  the  settlements  on  Connecticut  river,  at  Charlestown  'No.  4.  He  had  the 
courage  and  capacity  of  a  true  soldier,  and  is  probably  mentioned  as Hobbs,  cap- 
tain, in  Report  of  Adj't-General  N.  H.,  Military  History,  vol.  ii,  p.  158. 

$N.  H.  Historical  Collections,  vol.  v,  p.  88. 


16 

thirteen  years  after  the  vote  fixing  the  site  and  dimensions 
of  the  building,  and  eleven  years  after  the  frame  was  set  up, 
— a  delay  which  has  its  justification  in  their  poverty  and  the 
pressure  of  adverse  circumstances.  In  succeeding  years  we 
find  votes  for  the  assignment  of  seats,  or  "  dignifying  the 
house,"  as  it  was  called  in  Massachusetts ;  also,  petitions  from 
some  who  wished  to  sit  together  "  for  the  better  control  of 
their  families  in  worship ; "  requests  that  the  ^'quiresters  might 
sit  in  company  to  improve  the  psalmody  or  religious  singing." 
On  one  page,  the  young  men  petition  that  they  "  may  make 
seats  on  the  beams  in  front  of  the  meeting-house," — probably 
the  unfinished  gallery,^— and  others  of  a  similar  import, 
aiming  at  better  accommodations.  On  the  first  application, 
these  requests  were  usually  negatived ;  but  better  opinions 
prevailed,  and,  in  the  progress  of  years,  families  were  allowed 
to  sit  in  companies,  the  singers  were  brought  together,  and 
pew  ground  was  assigned  to  those  who  would  pay  for  it, — 
the  money  being  applied  "  to  finishing  up  the  meeting-house." 

At  the  best,  the  arrangements  of  the  first  house  of  worship 
must  have  been  inconvenient,  and  when  any  improvements 
were  attempted,  difficulties  would  be  suggested  which  usual- 
ly defeated  these  designs.  On  the  incorporation  of  the  town, 
there  were  fresh  reasons  for  postponement,  as  the  question 
then  arose  "  whether  the  house  belonged  to  the  town  or  to 
the  proprietors," — the  conflict  of  ownership  affording  suffi- 
cient reason  to  hinder  any  outlay  of  money.  On  what  terms, 
or  at  what  date  the  ownership  was  adjusted,  I  cannot  deter- 
mine. The  town  at  length  held  possession  ;  and  these  delays, 
with  the  consequent  vexations,  may  have  served  a  useful  pur- 
pose in  preparing  the  community  to  build  another  and  more 
commodious  house  of  worship. 

Before  I  speak  of  the  origin  of  the  new  house,  the  building 
in  which  we  are  now  assembled,  it  will  be  of  service  to  no- 
tice some  of  the  changes  which  had  transpired,  affecting  the 
prosperity  of  the  township.  In  1741,  the  inhabitants,  much 
against  their  wishes,  had  come  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 


17 

province  of  New  Hampshire ;  and  in  1760,  on  the  18th  day 
of  January,  one  hundred  and  fourteen  years  ago  this  day, 
a  charter  was  granted,  by  which  the  town  was  incorporated 
by  the  name  Amlierst.  The  population  was  sufficient  to  se- 
cure a  representative  to  the  general  court.  Mr.  Wilkins  was 
chosen  minister  of  the  town,  with  a  salary  of  <£47  10.^.  ster- 
ling money  of  Great  Britain,  or  its  equivalent  in  the  currency 
or  products  of  the  country. 

The  tedious  and  exhausting  w^ar  with  the  French  had  ter- 
minated successfully  in  the  conquest  of  Canada.     Agricul- 
ture had  revived  ;  domestic  arts  and  manufactures  began  to 
engage  the  attention  of  the  people  ;  and  a  more  equitable  and 
easy  administration  of  justice  was  now  demanded.     Hitherto 
the  town  of  Amherst  lay  wholly  on   the  north   side  of  the 
Souhegan  river, — the  town  of  Monson,  which  was  situated  be- 
tween this  place  and  HoUis,  lying  on  the  south.     For  some 
cause  not  fully  understood   at  this  day,  there  was  an  antip- 
athy to   the   people    of  Monson,  which  led   the   people   of 
Amherst  to  reject  all  proposals  for  annexation.     They  even 
refused  them  a  place  in   the  meeting-house,  '^unless  they 
would  severally  be  assessed  to  support  the  minister;"  but  in 
1770,  about  the  time  of  the  final  distribution  of  the  proprie- 
tors' lands  by  the  action  of  the  general   court,  Monson  was 
divided  between  Amherst  and  Hollis.     By  this  arrangement 
a   strip  of  land,  some   two  miles   in   breadth  and    six   in 
length, — say  thirteen  square  miles, — was  added  to  the  terri- 
tory, and  several  families,  needing  church  accommodations, 
to  the  population.     In  the  meantime  a  lively  competition 
was  started  among  the  townships  of  this  region  in  hope  of 
obtaining  the  county  seat,  w^ienever  the  expected  division  of 
the  state,  by  shires  or  counties,  should  be  established.     Peti- 
tions, counter-petitions,  and  remonstrances  were  sent  from 
the  places  most  interested  to  the  assembly.    A  remonstrance, 
which  has  attracted  special  notice,  went  from  this  place, 
written   by  Mr.   Wilkins,   against   making   Merrimack   the 
shire  town.     The  precise  influence  of  these  efforts  cannot 
2 


18 

now  be  determined ;  Lut  on  llie  formation  of  Hillsborough 
county,  Amherst  became  the  shire  town.  In  anticipation  of 
this  decision,  a  new  importance  was  given  to  the  place.  Men 
of  enterprise  seeking  business,  and  professional  gentlemen 
moving  hither,  tlie  town  voted  "to  build  a  new  meeting- 
house, to  be  located  on  the  training  field,  seventy-five  by  fifty 
feet," — a  huge,  barn-like  structure  ;  also,  voted  "  to  raise 
£150  lawful  money  towards  defraying  expenses  of  said 
building." 

Tliis  plan  was  subsequently  modified  by  a  change  which 
diminished  the  size  of  the  structure,  and  provided  somewhat 
for  its  embellishment.  They  voted  to  contract  the  dimen- 
sions, by  taking  five  feet  from  the  length  and  five  from  the 
breadth  ;  to  have  a  porch  at  one  end,  and  a  steeple,  with 
belfry  and  weathercock,  at  the  other.  This  was  the  approved 
pattern  at  that  period.  Previously,  if  a  meeting-house  had 
tower  and  bell,  the  spire  rose  from  the  centre  of  the  roof, 
and  the  bell-rope  came  to  the  floor  in  the  middle  aisle. 

A  measure  of  such  importance  as  the  erection  of  a  new 
meeting-house  was  not  carried  vrithout  much  excitement  and 
debate.  The  opposition  was  strong, — but  not  unanimous,  or 
the  project  would  have  failed.  The  interests  of  "  Chestnut 
Hill  folks  and  of  Monson  folks"  were  of  course  antagonistic. 
People  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  town  grumbled  at  the 
prospect  of  paying  towards  a  new  house  in  which  they  were 
not  to  worship,  and  the  district  embracing  Shepard's  mills 
was  thoroughly  disaffected.  Petitions  crowded  upon  the 
selectmen,  and  a  town-meeting  was  called  November  6, 1770, 
for  the  purpose  "of  annulling  or  modifying  the  previous  votes, 
and  see  if  the  town  would  not  consent  to  repair  the  old 
house;"  but  the  majority  were  united  and  unyielding,  and 
they  voted  "  to  ratify,  establish,  and  confirm  the  previous 
action  of  the  town,  and  refused  to  repair  the  old  meeting- 
house." Then  followed  a  series  of  meetings  to  change  the 
location  ;  but  they  were  ineffectual.  The  objection,  that  the 
site  was  too  wet  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  did  not  pre- 


19 

vail ;  and  tlie  alleged  superiority  "of  a  location  near  the  unit- 
ed roads  for  good  underpinning  and  freedom  from  water" 
did  not  convince  those  who  preferred  the  site  on  the  training 
field.  The  building  committee,  who  supervised  the  work, 
consisting  of  Robert  Read,  Samuel  McKean,  Archelaus 
Towne,  John  Shepard,  Jr.,  and  Moses  Nichols,  adopted  "the 
plan  of  the  old  North  Church  in  Concord,"  so  pleasantly  as- 
sociated in  our  minds  with  the  fruitful  ministry  of  Rev.  Dr. 
McFarland.  The  house  was  set  broad  side  to  the  south,  with 
folding  doors  opening  from  the  broad  aisle  on  an  ample  pave- 
ment, flanked  by  two  horse-blocks.  The  work  was  com- 
menced in  the  spring  of  1771,  the  town  manifesting  its  hos- 
pitality by  voting  ample  supplies  of  victuals  and  drink  for  all 
who  sliould  attend  the  raising.  The  occasion  brought  togeth- 
er a  great  company,  strong  men  and  agile,  besides  many 
spectators.  The  committee  of  entertainment  must  have 
managed  with  some  discretion,  not  exceeding  their  instruc- 
tions, that,  witli  such  powers  to  distribute  New  England 
rum  among  the  thirsty  crowd,  the  huge  timbers  of  this  mas- 
sive frame  were  set  in  their  places  without  serious  injury  to 
life  or  limb.  The  master-builder  was  Dea.  Ephraim  Barker, 
who  had  a  wide  reputation  as  a  skilful  mechanic. 

It  illustrates  the  habits  of  this  period  to  learn  that  the  rais- 
ing was  followed  by  athletic  games  and  feats  of  strength.  The 
iron-sided  men,  who  were  present  from  far  and  near,  must  not 
separate  without  an  exhibition  of  their  strengtli  and  agility. 
On  this  occasion  there  was  a  wrestling  match ;  and  the  min- 
ister's son,  afterwards  Dea.  Samuel  Wilkins,  ran  a  short  dis- 
tance on  a  wager,  "  carrying  on  his  shoulders  the  chairman  of 
the  building  committee,  who,  like  Eli  of  old,  was  fat  and  heavy 
— probably  the  heaviest  man  then  in  town." 

In  December  the  town  voted  "  to  finish  the  outside  of  the 
meeting-house,  clapboard  and  glaze  the  same,  complete  the 
steeple,  and  lay  floors."  One  hundred  and  sixty  pounds  were 
granted  to  pay  the  expenses  thus  far. 

For  various   reasons  the  work   proceeded  slowly.     The 


20 

people  were  poor,  and  serious  dissensions  impaired  tlieir 
strength.  Portions  of  the  town  were  dissatisfied,  and  con- 
sequently reluctant  to  pay  their  taxes. 

Otlier  matters  of  grave  concern  were  pressing  on  their  at- 
tention. The  people  of  New  Hampshire,  in  sympathy  with 
the  citizens  of  Massachusetts,  had  long  regarded,  with  min- 
gled feelings  of  dread  and  indignation,  the  acts  of  the  Brit- 
ish parliament.  The  course  of  adverse  legislation,  the  stamp 
and  tea  tax,  which  led  sagacious  men  like  Adams  and  Frank- 
lin to  anticipate  a  separation  of  the  colonies  from  the  mother 
country,  and  the  assertion  of  their  independence,  had  now 
reached  a  point  when  open  resistance  was  freely  talked.  Re- 
membering the  persistent  encroachments  of  Englaud  upon 
their  liberties,  the  people  welcomed  the  idea  of  making  com- 
mon cause  with  other  colonies  in  plans  of  mutual  coopera- 
tion and  defence.  The  discipline  of  the  French  and  Indian 
war  had  begotten  a  thoroughly  military  spirit  in  this  part  of 
the  land.  There  was  no  lack  of  courage  ;  but  the  poverty  of 
the  citizens  was  undeniable.  Whence  could  they  obtain  the 
materials  of  war,  the  arms  and  ammunition,  requisite  to  con- 
tend with  such  a  power  as  Great  Britain  ?  These  questions 
were  already  holding  the  thoughts  of  multitudes.  We  detect 
their  presence  in  the  action  taken  at  the  town-meetings.  In 
September,  following  the  dedication  of  this  meeting-house,  by 
vote  of  the  town,  a  building  is  constructed  for  the  safe  stor- 
ing of  powder.  It  was  substantial,  being  made  of  chestnut 
logs  hewn  twelve  inches  square,  and  covered  with  plaster. 
If  any  are  impatient  of  the  delays  attending  the  completion 
of  the  building,  let  them  consider  that  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple were  sorely  distracted  by  local  dissensions,  which  found 
adjustment  only  in  the  formation  of  two  other  parishes  or 
townships,  besides  the  uncertainty  and  excitement  attending 
the  ripening  apprehension  of  conflict  with  Great  Britain. 

Of  the  services  at  the  dedication  we  have  no  minute  in- 
formation. It  had  not  been  the  custom  in  New  England  to 
set  apart  places  of  worship  by  a  solemn  public  consecration. 


21 

The  first  house  was  never  formally  dedicated.  On  this  oc- 
casion several  ministers  were  present  as  the  guests  of  Mr. 
Wilkins.  We  have  no  record  of  the  names,  but  the  neigh- 
boring ministers  might  be  expected,  e.  ^.,  Live^more  of  Wil- 
ton, Goodrich  of  Lyndeborough,  Kidder  of  Dunstable,  Emer- 
son of  Hollis,  Burnap  of  Merrimack,  to  whom  he  extended 
the  right  hand  of  fellowship  two  years  before,  and  possibly 
some  visitors  from  the  older  towns  of  Essex  county,  Mass. 
A  sermon  was  preached  by  the  pastor,  in  which  he  is  said  to 
have  given  a  history  of  the  church  and  the  early  transactions 
of  the  settlement.  Could  we  but  recover  the  MS.,  what 
light  it  would  throw  upon  the  habits,  the  religious  doctrines 
and  worsliip,  of  the  first  inhabitants  !  We  have  no  question 
of  the  genuineness  of  their  faith  and  of  the  sincerity  of  their 
love.  A  people  moving  into  the  forests,  to  clear  for  them- 
selves homesteads  in  the  solitudes  of  the  wilderness,  do  not 
take  on  themselves  the  burden  of  building  meeting-houses 
and  sustaining  ministers  without  deep  convictions  of  the 
value  of  the  gospel.  But  it  would  gratify  our  reverent  curi- 
osity to  know  more  exactly  how  these  men  felt,  wliat  operated 
to  cheer  and  what  to  depress  them,  what  books  they  read, 
what  tunes  they  sung,  how  they  fared  in  the  winter*  without 
the  regular  service.  But  the  records  are  very  scanty.  In 
gratitude  to  God,  they  set  down  the  names  of  the  children 
as  they  were  baptized ;  but  of  their  own  toils,  their  prayers, 
their  self-denial,  and  their  achievements,  they  say  nothing. 
The  strength  of  their  devotion  may  be  inferred  from  their 
sacrifices  to  maintain  worship  and  their  belief  of  the  truth, 
from  the  unfaltering  purpose  to  train  up  their  children  under 
the  instructions  of  an  orthodox  ministry. 

In  Dec.  4,  1771,  before  the  new  meeting-house  was  ready 
for  occupation,  on  the  question  of  giving  the  old  meeting- 

*From  letters  and  various  memorandums,  it  appears  that  before  the  forests  were  cut 
off  the  snow  accumulated  in  such  quantities  that  the  roads  in  winter  were  impassable. 
The  people  went  abroad  on  rackets;  and  contracts  for  the  delivery  of  fuel  and  lumber 
provided  that  the  same  should  be  drawn  on  the  March  crust,  when  teams  could  usu- 
ally move  in  any  direction,  with  no  obstruction  save  buildings  and  trees. 


22 

house  to  the  county  for  a  court-house,  we  read, — "  Secondly, 
voted,  and  hereby  do  give,  grant,  and  forever  quit  claim  all 
our  right,  title,  interest,  claim,  and  property  in  and  unto  our 
old  meeting-house  in  said  Amherst,  to  the  justices  of  the 
court  of  general  sessions  of  tlie  peace  for  said  county,  for 
the  use  of  said  county,  reserving  to  ourselves  the  privilege 
of  congregating  in  said  house  from  time  to  time,  as  we  shall 
see  meet,  for  the  space  of  two  years,  to  commence  from  this 
time,  without  having  it  made  inconvenient  for  that  purpose ; 
reserving  to  ourselves  the  right  to  remove  the  pulpit  out  of 
the  house  at  any  time  within  the  two  years  aforesaid :  Pro- 
vided, nevertheless,  and  the  above  vote  is  upon  this  condi- 
tion, that  the  justices  aforesaid  cause  a  new  county  jail  to  be 
erected  within  one  hundred  and  sixty  rods  of  said  house,  as 
it  now  stands ;  otherwise,  the  above  vote  and  every  clause 
therein  contained  to  be  void." 

The  conditions  prescribed  by  the  town  were  accepted,  the 
jail  erected  on  the  spot  where  stands  the  old  county  house, 
and  the  first  house  of  worship  was  transferred  from  the  use 
of  the  church  to  the  service  of  the  state.*  At  the  expira- 
tion of  the  two  years,  as  we  have  seen,  the  new  house  w^as 
dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God.  The  floor  of  the  house  or 
pew  ground  was  subsequently  sold  at  auction  to  the  highest 
bidder,  the  purchasers  erecting  pews  at  their  own  cost,  un- 
der the  direction  of  a  committee,  who  were  instructed  to 
have  ''  three  tiers  of  pews  on  the  south  side,  one  on  the 
north,  two  tiers  at  the  east  end,  and  two  tiers  at  the  west 
end  ;  alleys  to  be  between  the  pews  and  seats,  and  between 
the  pews : "  a  description  which  becomes  intelligible  when 
we  learn  that  below  the  pulpit  were  seats  for  the  deacons, 
and,  across  the  aisle  from  them,  rows  of  seats  for  the  aged 
men,  the  fathers  of  the  congregation.  The  pews  intended 
for  families  w^ere  eight  or  ten  feet  square,  surmounted  by  a 

*In  1789  this  building  was  removed  from  the  original  site  to  the  plain,  and,  before  it 
was  quite  finished,  burned  by  the  fire  of  an  incendiary.  Memoir  of  Joshua  Aiherton, 
p.  31. 


23 

rail,  wliicli  was  supported  by  small  wooden  balusters,  through 
which  the  children  could  peer  out  and  get  a  view  of  the 
galleries  and  the  inmates  of  adjoining  pews.  The  pulpit  or 
"  imprisonment  "  was  built  higli  up  against  the  north  wall, 
having  a  narrow  stair-case  on  the  left  or  west  side,  "  and  a 
door  tliat  shut  the  preacher  in."  Over  the  sacred  desk,  and 
hanging  from  tlie  ceiling  by  an  iron  rod,  was  the  sounding- 
board,  an  object  of  wonder  and  curious  speculation  to  all 
the  juvenile  hearers,  who  were  mentally  asking  w^hat  would 
happen  if  it  should  fall  upon  the  minister.  "  The  sea*s,"  we 
are  told,  "  were  not  on  golden  hinges  hung,"  and  as  they 
were  lifted,  when  the  congregation  rose,  the  uprising  and 
down-sitting  of  the  people  were  accompanied  with  a  crash 
and  clatter  not  unlike  tlie  discharge  of  musketry  on  training 
days.  The  pews  also  had  arm-rests  and  leaning-boards  for 
the  support  of  weary  heads.  When  these  bars  were  lifted, 
being  set  upright,  something  formidable  might  have  been 
anticipated  from  this  bristling  movement.  The  house  had 
galleries  on  tln-ee  sides,  supported  by  smooth,  substantial 
wooden  columns,  which  were  painted  in  imitation  of  marble. 
Against  the  walls  was  a  tier  of  pews,  in  front  of  which  were 
seats  for  strangers,  for  domestics,  a  reserved  bench  for  the 
blacks,  and  in  front  of  the  preacher  a  section  of  the  gallery 
was  set  apart  for  the  singers.  The  rich  and  poor  met  togeth- 
er in  the  sanctuary,  and  united  in  recognizing  the  Lord  their 
maker  ;  but  it  was  not  in  harmony  with  the  ideas  of  that  day 
that  they  should  sit  together  ; — hence  the  divisions,  arrange- 
ments, and  orders  of  which  I  have  spoken.  The  churches 
were  democratic  in  their  theories  of  church  government  and 
membersliip,  but  they  were  not  yet  emancipated  from  the  force 
of  hereditary  customs.  The  various  arrangements  for  the 
accommodation  of  worshippers  were  not  completed  at  once. 
Several  years  elapsed  before  the  house  was  furnished  through- 
out with  seats  in  the  style  which  you  associate  with  the 
palmy  days  of  Dr.  Lord's  ministry.  In  the  ordering  of  the 
house  of  God,  changes  were  esteemed  dangerous  innovations, 


24 

and  the  proposition  to  assign  seats  to  the  singers,  "  for  the 
better  regulation  of  psalmody,"  came  before  the  town  sev- 
eral times  without  approval.  The  affairs  of  the  country 
had  the  precedence  of  all  other  matters  and  things, — "  the 
acts  of  the  grand  congress  at  Philadelphia,"  the  business  of 
providing  soldiers,  procuring  salt  and  powder,  designating 
committees  of  safety,  and  clioosing  delegates  to  state  and 
county  conventions.  These  duties,  togetlier  with  measures 
of  relief  for  soldiers'  families,  and  safeguards  against  the  in- 
trigues of  tories,  gave  the  people  sufficient  occupation.  The 
inevitable  anxiety  attending  the  exhausting  conflict  was  aggra- 
vated by  differences  of  opinion  respecting  the  principles  and 
conduct  of  public  men,  and  the  consequent  exasperation  and 
bitterness  of  feeling  did  not  subside  with  the  close  of  the  war. 
Contrary  to  what  might  have  been  our  expectation,  the  re- 
turn of  peace  brought  no  relief  from  political  strife.  The 
questions  that  became  prominent  respected  the  relation  of 
the  new  states  to  one  another  and  the  general  government. 
Local  questions  of  civil  riglits,  the  jurisdiction  of  courts  and 
magistrates,  also  required  adjustment;  the  choice  of  rulers, 
and  the  selection  of  delegates  to  settle  the  powers  and  du- 
ties of  state  officers  and  frame  a  constitution,  were  impera- 
tive affairs.  Almost  all  of  these  subjects  were  brought  be- 
fore the  citizens  in  their  primary  meetings.  The  importance 
which  they  attached  to  them  is  evinced  in  the  appointment 
of  large  committees  for  counsel  and  correspondence,  and 
frequent  adjournments  to  wait  further  information. 

Meanwhile,  Pastor  Wilkin s  growing  infirm  and  needing 
an  assistant,  the  duty  of  supplying  the  pulpit  was  intrusted 
to  a  committee  m  1776,  who  were  to  employ  "  such  young 
preachers  as  they  chose."  Soon  after,  the  congregation  were 
evidently  interested  in  Mr.  Sweatland,  and  wished  to  secure 
his  services.  In  1778,  liberal  proposals  were  made  to  Mr. 
John  Blydenburg  to  settle  as  colleague  with  Mr.  Wilkins ; 
but  without  success.  Similar  propositions  were  offered  Mr. 
Edmund  Foster,  which  he  declined.    In  the  autumn  of  1779,  a 


25 

call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Jeremiah  Barnard,*  of  Bolton, 
Mass.,  on  similar  terms.  He  was  willing  to  accept;  but  the 
ordination  did  not  occur  till  the  following  March,  when  the 
sermon  was  preaclied  by  Rev.  Zabdiel  Adams  of  Lunenburg, 
Bridge  of  Chelmsford  giving  the  charge,  and  Emerson  of 
Hollis  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  The  opposition  to  his 
settlement  was  in  part  personal,  some  of  the  hearers  prefer- 
ring a  more  positive  style  of  preaching ;  for  it  was  manifest 
that  Mr.  Barnard  did  not  present  the  doctrines,  as  they  were 
called,  with  much  prominence  and  pungency.  But  this  con- 
sideration had  less  weight  than  territorial  interests.  For  obvi- 
ous reasons,  the  settlers  on  the  green  hills  of  the  north-west 
desired  the  benefits  of  a  ministry  nearer  home.  They  lived 
remote  from  the  first  meeting-house,  and  the  second  was  yet 
half  a  mile  farther  off  by  the  travelled  way.  They  had  en- 
tered into  agreements  to  support  Mr.  Wilkins,  and  to  pay 
other  charges  until  they  should  be  set  off  as  the  second 
parish.  Of  course  they  were  determined  not  to  share  in  ad- 
ditional burdens.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was  to  be  said  that 
the  population  of  the  town  (1,428  in  '75)  was  not  too  large 
for  one  parish.  The  majority  did  not  wish  the  territory  di- 
vided ;  their  local  importance,  their  wealth  or  numbers, 
diminished; — and  the  import  of  their  successive  votes,  in 
answer  to  the  petitions  from  the  north-west,  make  it  clear 
that  they  would  not  let  that  people  go  if  they  could  help  it. 
The  struggle  was  carried  on  for  years  in  various  shapes,  some- 
times involving  litigation  in  which  the  majority  were  not 
always  successful ;  and  in  September,  1780,  only  six  months 
after  Mr.  Barnard's  ordination,  the  second  church  in  Am- 
herst was  formed,  and  the  ecclesiastical  strife,  in  that  direc- 
tion, ended.     From  that  date  the  town  acted  as  a  parish. 

The  efforts  that  had  been  made  for  the  formation  of  a 
third  parish  in  the  south-west  part  of  the  town,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  organization  of  a  church  in  1788,  also  originated 


*Mr.  B.  was  the  son  of  Robert  Barnard,  of  Bolton,  Mass.,  where  he  was  born  Feb. 
28, 1750.    He  graduated  at  Harvard  college  in  1773. 


26 

in  pleas  of  greater  convenience  for  the  inhabitants  ;  but  the 
arguments  were  not  so  obviously  just ;  and  subsequent  events 
incline  one  to  the  opinion  that  the  movement  had  in  it  "  an 
element  of  carnal  policy."  The  town  of  Amherst  owed 
much  to  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wilkins.  We  have  no 
statistics  from  which  to  deduce  exact  statements  respecting 
the  results  of  his  ministry.  From  all  that  I  can  gather,  he 
was  a  man  of  great  simplicity  and  purity  of  character. 
Having  an  intelligent  and  well-balanced  mind,  he  made 
himself  the  guardian  and  friend  of  his  people.  In  their 
perils  and  discouragements  he  shared  in  their  distresses, 
and  bade  them  take  heart.  Twice,  probably,  in  the  history 
of  the  plantation,  his  counsels  prevented  their  abandoning 
the  territory.  He  must  have  been  patient,  and  of  a  scholarly 
turn  of  mind  ;  he  must  have  been  diligent  in  pastoral  labors, 
teaching  them  by  families,  or  he  would  not  have  instructed 
the  people  so  thoroughly.  He  was  evidently  wise  and  kind, 
or  he  would  not  have  held  so  large  a  place  in  their  affections. 
In  person,  he  was  a  thick-set  but  well-formed  man,  of  ruddy 
countenance  and  genial  speech.  At  the  age  of  sixty-three  his 
mental  faculties  became  impaired,  and  he  was  unequal  to  the 
duties  of  the  ministry ;  but  the  people  cared  for  him  thoughtful- 
ly, seeking  his  presence  and  services  in  their  families  as  long 
as  he  could  venture  abroad.  When  he  died  the  town  assumed 
the  whole  expense  of  his  burial,  and  honored  his  grave  by  a 
monument  on  which  they  inscribed  in  glowing  w^ords  their 
admiration  of  his  virtues,  and  their  grateful  remembrance  of 
his  laborious  services  as  their  minister. 

The  years  following  the  close  of  the  revolution  w^ere 
marked  by  a  general  decline  in  the  tone  of  religious  feeling. 
Infidelity  prevailed  widely  among  men  of  wealth  and  culture. 
The  claims  of  piety  were  openly  derided,  and  the  fashionable 
sentiment  favored  a  thoughtless  and  jovial  manner  of  life. 
The  minds  of  men  were  agitated  by  political  questions,  in 
wdiich  pastors  and  churches  were  often  involved.  The 
formation  of  the  national  and  state  constitutions,  the  inau- 


27 

guration  of  new  officers,  the  interpretation  of  their  powers 
and  duties  under  the  new  administration,  the  adoption  of  a 
better  system  of  finance,  the  introduction  of  new  industries, 
and  the  necessity  of  repairing  the  wastes  of  the  war,  en- 
grossed the  attention  of  the  people.  The  concerns  of  relig- 
ion were  very  much  crowded  aside.  Amherst,  being  the 
shire  town,  the  seat  of  the  courts,  in  what  had  become  a 
thickly  settled  portion  of  the  state,  became  the  resort  of 
lawyers,  politicians,  and  patriots.  The  Hillsborough  county 
bar  was  distinguished  for  the  talent  and  legal  ability  of  its 
members.  The  sessions  of  the  court  occupied  several  weeks 
of  the  year,  and  the  business  was  of  such  importance  as  to 
bring  hither  the  foremost  lawyers  of  the  state.  The  town  al- 
so became  the  centre  of  a  large  and  lucrative  trade,  and  the 
population  in  1790  reached  two  thousand  three  hundred  and 
sixty-nine.  As  a  consequence  of  this  prosperity,  aristocratic 
tastes  and  customs  prevailed, — a  fondness  for  gaming,  danc- 
ing, and  convivial  entertainments,  which  did  not  favor  sobri- 
ety or  a  serious  tone  of  thought. 

There  was  little  in  Mr.  Barnard's  preaching  to  disturb  the 
prevailing  sentiment.  He  was  an  amiable  man,  made  his 
house  attractive  to  the  young  people,  and  in  various  ways 
contributed  to  the  good  order  and  social  culture  of  the  com- 
munity. His  sympathies  were  not  with  the  Calvinistic  school 
of  ministers,  and  as  years  advanced  his  chosen  associates 
were  of  the  less  evangelical  type.  During  the  period  of 
his  active  ministry  two  hundred  and  fifty-three  persons  were 
admitted  to  full  communion,  an  average  of  seven  per  annum. 
Several  others  owned  the  covenant,  as  it  was  called,  and  had 
their  children  baptized.  This  is  not  the  place  to  discuss  the 
merits  of  that  custom ;  but  the  erroneous  practice  was  dis- 
continued before  the  settlement  of  his  successor.  At  this 
day  it  is  not  easy  to  pronounce  judgment  on  the  actual  fruits 
of  Mr.  Barnard's  ministry.  He  entered  the  field  while  the 
land  was  overshadowed  by  the  war-cloud  of  the  revolution, 
and  his  retirement  from  active  duties  was  close  upon  the 


28 

conclusion  of  the  war  of  1815.  How  far  these  events  con- 
tributed to  the  predominant  political  tone  of  his  sermons  I 
cannot  determine.  The  dissatisfaction  felt  by  many  who 
loved  a  more  discriminating  gospel  was  doubtless  increased 
by  this  patriotic  zeal  for  the  federal  side  in  politics.  It  has 
also  operated  to  the  prejudice  of  Mr.  Barnard's  ministry  that, 
like  Mr.  Wilkins,he  lived  many  years  after  he  became  infirm 
and  quite  unequal  to  public  service,  and  during  that  time  he 
was  not  altogether  in  sympathy  with  his  earnest  and  success- 
ful colleagues.  Unless  we  assume  that  Amherst  was  unusu- 
ally favored  in  the  additions  to  its  population  from  abroad, 
the  ministry  of  Mr.  Barnard  m.ust  have  been  of  much  practi- 
cal force,  or  the  people  would  not,  by  such  majorities,  have 
welcomed  a  preacher  like  his  successor.  Mr.  Barnard  lived 
to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four,  dying  January  15, 1835.* 
We  now  reach  a  period  wliich  is  well  known  by  tradition  to 
this  generation.  Your  fathers  worshipped  in  this  house,  and 
some  of  their  number  joined  in  the  call  by  which  Mr.  Nathan 
Lord,  of  South  Berwick,  Me.,  became  pastor.  The  vote  of 
the  church  is  said  to  have  been  unanimous,  and  the  town 
concurred  with  them  in  their  action.  At  the  ordination, 
Dr.  McFarland  preached  the  sermon ;  Rev.  David  McGregor 
offered  the  prayer  of  consecration  ;  the  senior  pastor  gave 
the  charge;  and  Rev.  Dr.  Moore  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship.! 

Mr.  Lord  had  very  positive  and  distinct  views  of  the 
duties  of  the  ministry,  and  he  brought  to  the  perform- 
ance of  those  duties  a  vigorous  and  well-trained  mind. 
His  preaching  was  marked  by  clearness  of  statement,  neat- 
ness and  precision  of  style,  and  a    prevailing   seriousness 

*  For  list  of  Mr.  Barnard's  publis^hed  writings,  see  Farmer's  History  (New  Hamp- 
shire Historical  Society's  Collection),  vol.  v,  p.  115. 

tThe  sermon,  charge,  and  fellowship  of  the  churches,  delivered  on  that  occasion,  were 
published  by  R.  Boylston,  Amherst,  1816.  Dr.  Lord,  son  of  Hon.  John  Lord,  was  born 
at  South  Berwick,  Me.,  28th  of  November,  1792;  graduated  Bowdoin  College,  1809; 
Andover  Seminary,  1815;  pastor,  1816-1828;  president  Dartmouth  college,  1828-1863; 
died  at  Hanover  9th  of  September,  1870. 


29 

which  kindled  the  sensibilities  of  his  hearers.  His  enthu- 
siasm in  presenting  and  defending  the  Edwardean  theology, 
awakened  the  sympathy  of  many  in  the  church,  while  his 
tact  and  culture  enlisted  friends  in  the  congregation.  He 
was  a  good  organizer,  and  had  much  tact  in  dealing  with 
men.  The  affairs  of  the  church,  which  had  fallen  into 
neglect,  were  straightened  and  reduced  to  order ;  discipline 
was  restored,  and  the  spiritual  forces  of  the  gospel  soon 
began  to  assert  their  power  in  the  community.  Worldly 
men  were  troubled,  and  various  methods  were  tried  to  hinder 
the  growing  seriousness.  The  opposition  to  his  preaching, 
however,  served  to  unite  the  hearts  of  his  supporters,* 
and  begat  in  them  a  watchful  and  earnest  spirit.  Men  of 
prominence  for  ability  and  influence  were  brought  into  the 
church,  and  a  new  tone  of  spiritual  activity  animated  the 
whole  body.  As  the  opposition  to  his  ministry  turned  on 
questions  of  theological  belief,!  an  earnest  controversy  arose, 
in  which  the  doctrinal  position  of  the  majority  was  clearly 
defined.  No  wisdom  or  prudence,  on  the  part  of  the  pastor, 
could  prevent  the  open  rupture  which  resulted  in  a  secession 
of  part  of  the  church  and  congregation.  "  The  year  1824," 
writes  tlie  Rev.  Silas  Aiken,  "  brought  with  it  severe  trials 
to  both  the  pastor  and  the  church,  in  the  withdrawment  of 
several  members,  in  order  to  form  a  Unitarian  church  in 
connection  with  a  new  society|  recently  established,  and  to 
come  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  E.  Q.  Sevvall.  But  in 
all  these  trials  the  Lord  assisted  them.     He  brought  Zion 


*The  Tuesday  afternoon  prayer-meeting,  which  is  still  maintained  by  tlie  cliurch, 
was  instituted  at  the  house  of  the  junior  pastor  during  tliese  trials,  April  4, 1823. 

t  The  style  and  matter  of  the  discussion  that  agitated  this  community,  may  be  learned 
by  consulting  the  files  of  the  Farmer's  Cabinet  for  1817-18. 

J  At  a  special  town-meeting,  Nov.  18th,  1822,  the  disaffected  members  of  Mr.  Lord's 
congregation  asked  the  use  of  the  church  their  proportion  of  the  time;  vote,— yeas,  87, 
nays,  131.  1824,  March  27,  Charles  H.  Atherton,  David  Holmes,  Ephraim  Blanchard, 
Elisha  F.  Wallace,  and  their  associates,  formed  themselves  into  a  religious  society,  and 
took  the  name  and  style  of  "  The  Christian  Society  in  Amherst."  The  Unitarian  meet- 
ing-house (63x4'.  feet)  was  raised  June  9,  1835,  under  direction  of  John  Crombie,  Jr.,  of 
New  Boston.  Dedicated,  Nov.  24.  Sermon  by  Rev.  Mr.  Maynard,  pastor,  from  Acts 
17 :  24.    This  house  is  now  occupied  by  the  Baptists. 


30 

out  of  all  her  troubles,  and  set  her  feet  in  a  large  place." 
On  the  failure  of  his  voice,  Mr.  Lord  resigned,  and,  having 
a  call  to  the  presidency  of  Dartmouth  college,  he  was  dis- 
missed Nov.  22,  1828,  to  accept  that  office.*  The  additions 
to  the  church  under  his  ministry  gave  new  force  to  the  institu- 
tions of  religion  ;  the  church  was  liomogeneous  in  sentiment, 
its  discipline  reestablished,  and  the  way  prepared  for  the 
enlargement  of  its  numbers  on  the  evangelical  basis. 

On  the  4th  March  of  the  following  year,  in  compliance 
with  a  unanimous  call  from  the  Congregational  church  and 
society  (tlie  relation  of  the  town  to  the  support  of  the  min- 
istry having  ceased),  Eev.  Silas  Aiken  was  settled.  The 
services  of  his  ordination  f  are  still  remembered,  and  the  es- 
teemed pastors  who  officiated  at  the  time.  Mr.  Aiken  brought 
to  the  ministry  certain  gifts  by  which  he  was  qualified  for 
special  usefulness  in  this  field.  He  had  not  the  polished 
manners  and  graceful  address  of  Dr.  Lord.  He  was  tall  and 
strongly  built,  with  a  certain  abruptness  and  angularity  of 
movement  consequent  upon  a  shy  and  reserved  nature.  He 
liad  vigorous  health,  strong  lungs,  a  stalwart  frame,  great 
natural  shrewdness,  and  a  masculine  understanding.  He 
analyzed  his  subject  and  laid  out  the  plan  with  strong  hand- 
ling, and  the  filling  up  was  wrought  with  intense  feeling.  In 
this  was  the  secret  of  his  power.  Often,  when  preaching, 
the  emotions  of  his  .srreat  heart  hurried  him  on  into  strains 


*  1828.  Dec.  16th,  Perley  Raymond,  Timothy  D.  W^ood,  and  John  Hazeltine,  with 
their  associates,  united  in  forming  a  religious  society  by  tlie  name  of  the  "  First  Metho- 
dist Society  in  Amlierst,"  witli  the  intention  of  maintaining  worship  on  Chestnut  hills. 
April  9, 1839,  at  the  suggestion  of  Rev.  John  Adams,  John  Haseltlne,  Solomon  Barron, 
Loammi  Eaton,  Levi  Duncklee,  and  their  associates,  formed  themselves  into  a  society, 
taking  the  name  of  the  "  First  Methodist  Society."  In  April,  1840,  they  took  posses- 
sion of  the  lot,  on  which  their  house  of  worship  now  stands,  and  in  which  slips  were 
sold  to  members  in  February,  1841. 

jThe  sermon  was  preached  by  Hev.  Samuel  Green,  of  Boston;  prayer  of  ordination 
by  Rev.  Eli  Smith,  of  Hollis;  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev.  Dr.  Church;  fellowship  of 
the  churches  by  Rev.  A.  Richards;  address  to  the  people  by  Rev.  Mr.  Nott,  of  Nashua. 
Dr.  Aiken,  son  of  Phineas  Aiken,  was  born  in  Bedford,  May  14,1799;  graduated  at 
Dartmouth  college,  1825;  ordained  pastor,  1829,— at  Amherst  till  1837;  Park  street, 
Boston,  1837-1848;  Rutland,  Vt.,  1849-1863;  trustee  Dartmouth  college,  1840-1862;  died 
at  Rutland,  April  7, 1869. 


*>1 
t)i 

of  fervid  and  subduing  eloquence.  In  these  seasons  of  im- 
passioned address,  he  literally  besought  men  witli  tears  to  be 
reconciled  to  God.  Tlie  success  of  his  ministry  in  gathering 
converts  was  great  *  beyond  precedent.  Of  the  ministry  of 
his  successors,  Rev.  F.  A.  Adams,  ph.  d.,  and  Rev.  W.  T. 
Savage,  d.d.,  who  were  both  able  and  scholarly  men,  I  make 
no  sketch.  Eacli  of  them  performed  valuable  services  here, 
and  in  other  fields  of  Christian  labor  they  have  won  an  en- 
viable reputation  for  talents  and  fidelity. 

The  church,  which  was  organized  in  1741  by  six  members, 
in  the  simplest  form  of  Congregationalism,  out  of  a  popula- 
tion of  fourteen  families,  had  increased,  under  the  four  pas- 
torates which  I  have  delineated,  to  a  membersliip  of  three 
hundred  and  eight  in  a  population  of  sixteen  hundred,  with 
two  other  churches  in  the  township.  The  average  of  annual 
additions  for  the  last  ninety-three  years  is  ten  ;  and  the  whole 
number,  from  the  formation  of  the  church  to  this  date,  must 
be  nearly  eleven  hundred  and  fifty. 

But  the  real  usefulness  of  a  church  and  the  ordinances  of 
worship  is  not  to  be  stated  in  figures.  Who  shall  estimate 
the  value  of  the  influences  emanating  from  this  sanctuary, 
as  they  have  moulded  and  enriched  the  minds  and  hearts  of 
this  people  and  their  descendants !  Wlio  can  trace  the 
various  lines  of  profitable  thought,  of  virtuous  endeavor,  and 
self-denying  Christian  duty  here  started  !  Who  shall  measure 
the  enlargement  of  mind,  the  elevation  and  refinement  of 
feeling,  consequent  on  the  manifestation  of  the  truth  from 
this  pulpit !     Who  will  tell  us  how  much  of  sin  has  been 


*  In  the  spring  of  1835  the  Spirit  "  came  down  like  showers  that  water  the  earth." 
The  week  of  the  annual  state  Fast  was  wholly  given  to  the  work,  witli  preaching  twice 
a  day,  inquiry  and  prayer  meetings  morning  and  evening.  Business  was  mainly  sus- 
pended ;  and  the  whole  population  seemed  drawn  by  a  heavenly  influence  to  the  house 
of  God,  The  great  question  with  all  seemed  to  be,—"  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved?  " 
Fathers,  mothers,  children, — in  some  cases,  whole  families, — yielded  to  the  Spirit,  and 
became  obedient  to  the  heavenly  vision.  The  pastor  labored  with  a  strong  hand,  and 
willing,  joyful  heart,  characteristically  declaring  "that though  there  was  much  work  to 
be  done,  when  seed-time  and  harvest  came  together"'  it  was  easy  working.  As  the  re- 
sult of  this  revival,  one  hundred  and  one  members  united  with  the  church,  nearly  all  of 
whom  honored  their  professions.    [From  the  manuscript  of  Dea.  E.  D.  Boylston. 


32 

restrained,  how  much  of  folly  prevented,  how  much  of  suffer- 
ing saved,  by  the  counsels  here  uttered  !  Who  will  anticipate 
the  rewards  of  tliat  consecration  which  hallowed  this  terri- 
itory  for  more  than  a  century,  as  it  will  appear  in  the  divine 
records  of  sins  forgiven,  souls  purified,  and  men  redeemed! 
These  servants  of  Christ,  having  served  thoir  generation  by 
the  v.-ill  of  God,  have  fallen  asleep.  '•  They  rest  from  their 
labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them." 

[At  this  point,  while  the  speaker  paused,  the  choir  sang,  with  pleasing 
effect,  the  following  stanzas  : 

Though  earthly  shepherds  dwell  in  dust, 

The  aged  and  the  young; 
The  watchful  eye  in  darkness  closed, 

And  mute  the  instructive  tongue, — 

The  eternal  Shepherd  still  survives, 

New  comfort  to  impart; 
His  eye  still  guides  us,  and  his  voice 

Still  animates  our  heart. — Doddrige.'] 

The  history  of  church  music,  as  it  has  been  employed  in 
this  house  and  in  the  earlier  sanctuary,  would  furnish  an 
entertaining  chapter.  In  the  absence  of  any  record,  as  the 
gift  of  song  runs  in  families,  we  may  assume  that  John  Sea- 
town,  the  tirst  deacon  of  the  name  and  fourth  in  order  of  elec- 
tion, was  a  leader  under  Pastor  Wilkins.  We  should  not 
probably  err  in  asserting  that  he  pitched  the  tune  and  led  in 
the  psalm,  standing  in  front  and  below^  the  pulpit,  as  his  son 
and  successor  in  office  did  thirty-five  years  afterwards.  At 
that  period  "  Sternhold  &  Hopkins,"  or  the  "  Bay  State  Collec- 
tion of  Psalms  and  Hymns,"  was  used  in  this  vicinity.  The 
choice  of  tunes  did  not  exceed  twelve  in  the  three  metres. 

One  story  survives,  which  deserves  preservation  for  the 
benefit  of  distracted  parishes.  It  appears  that  Pastor  Wilkins 
and  the  singers  had  introduced  a  new  hymn  book  (probably 
the  incoming  version  of  Dr.  I.  Watts),  to  which  some  in  the 
congregation  were  violently  opposed.     The  excitement  was 


33 

SO  great  that  a  compromise  was  attempted  by  using  the  new 
version  only  for  the  last  tune,  "  when  the  opposers  retired 
from  the  house-,  ratlier  than  hear  the  words  of  the  devil" 
"Mr.  Wilkins,"  says  the  chronicler,  "thought  these  persons 
did  not  know  what  they  were  opposing."  He  accordingly 
arraiiged  an  exchange  ;  and  the  new  mi'nister  began  with  the 
new  version,  and  used  it  all  day.  At  the  last  singing  the 
disaffected  hearers  left  the  meeting  as  usual ;  but  when  they 
learned  soon  after  that  they  had  heard  the  hated  tunes  all 
day  without  knowing  it,  the  opposition  became  so  ludicrous 
that  they  were  content  to  say  no  more  about  it." 

In  Mr.  Barnard's  day  "the  quiresters"  were  permitted  to 
sit  together;  and,  while  it  was  their  duty  to  make  har- 
mony for  others,  they  did  not  always  maintain  peace  among 
themselves.  On  one  occasion,  when  the  singers  were  in 
practice  for  the  approaching  Fourth  of  July,  some  otience 
was  taken ;  and  on  the  following  Sabbath  "the  chorister,  the 
pastor's  son-in-law,  found  himself  alone  in  the  singing-seats. 
Not  willing  to  sing  alone,  he  also  retired.  When  Mr.  Bar- 
nard rose  in  the  pulpit,  the  seats  were  empty.  After  the  in- 
troductory service,  he  read  a  hymn.  Then,  laying  down  the 
book  with  some  energy,  he  called  on  the  congregation  to 
unite  in  prayer."  Not  much  time  elapsed  before  he  took  up 
the  singers,  "  praying  that,  if  they  would  not  unite  in  prais- 
ing the  Lord  in  the  sanctuary,  they  might  not  be  permitted 
to  sing  together  on  any  occasion  whatever.  Going  on  in  this 
strain  for  some  time,  the  singers  thought  it  best  to  return. 
First,  the  chorister  took  his  place,  then  the  next  in  rank,  un- 
til finally,  before  the  close  of  the  prayer,  the  seats  were  filled ; 
and  the  second  hymn  was  responded  to  with  unwonted 
power."  In  the  closing  period  of  Mr.  Barnard's  ministry, 
Jonathan  Hildreth  acted  as  chorister,  and  his  services  were 
widely  esteemed. 

There  was  a  large  choir  in  Dr.  Lord's  time,  as  a  place  in 
the  singing-pews  was  a  coveted  distinction ;  and  when  the 
ranks  "  were  full  the  singing  meant  something.     With  bass 


34 

Tiol,  Tioliii,  and  brazen  instruments  (says  my  informant), 
and  such  voices  as  Benjamin  Kendrick's,  Ambrose  Seaton's, 
Mary  Goss's,  and  twenty  others,  male  and  female,  the  people 
could  make  melody  in  their  hearts  if  they  desired  to." 

Tlie  introduction  of  organs  marks  a  later  period,  and 
brings  to  mind  the  assiduous  zeal  of  Mrs.  Prentiss,  and  the 
almost  affectionate  solicitude  of  Bro.  Aaron  Lawrence,  with 
the  sturdy  presence,  clear  tenor  voice,  and  piping  violin  of 
Mr.  Elbridge  Hardy.  I  could  speak  of  other  male  and  female 
singers  who  have  contributed  to  our  edification  and  delight 
in  the  sacred  service  of  song  and  praise. 

"  Music,  Avhen  soft  voices  die, 
Vibrates  iu  the  memory." 

I  recall  the  names  of  many,  both  of  the  living  and  the 
dead,  towards  whom  v/e  feel  more  gratitude  than  we  have 
ever  expressed. 

The  house  in  which  we  are  assembled  occupied  the  spot 
on  which  it  was  raised,  and  in  substantially  the  form  already 
described,  for  65  years;  two  generations,  with  thronging 
families,  had  gathered  within  its  capacious  w^alls  for  worship. 
Up  to  the  year  1832  the  house  had  been  held  and  controlled 
by  the  town,  in  the  interest  of  the  majority.  With  the 
change  in  the  statutes,  respecting  the  support  of  religious 
institutions  in  New  Hampshire,  the  town  disposed  of  the 
house  by  auction  to  the  highest  bidder,  reserving  only  the 
tow^er,  clock,  and  bell,  when  the  building  became  the  property 
of  the  Congregational  society.  The  necessity  of  thorough 
repairs  and  of  improved  accommodations  for  seating  the 
worshippers  was  manifest  to  all.  The  work  of  remodelling 
and  removing  was  commenced  in  1836,  when  the  building 
was  turned  half  round,  and  then  moved  backwards  from  the 
common  to  the  site  on  which  it  now  stands.  The  galleries 
were  taken  down,  the  floor  raised,  new  windows  inserted, 
and  the  building  so  extended  as  to  embrace  the  porch  which 
sustained  the  steeple.     By  this  means  a  gallery  was  con- 


striicted  over  the  entry,  wliicli  famished  seats  for  the  choir. 
With  a  new  pulpit,  and  pews  of  the  modern  pattern,  the 
house  was  accepted  by  the  congregation  from  the  contractor, 
Mr.  Jona.  Knight,  with  expressions  of  approbation.  The 
house  was  reoccnpied  January  1,  1837,  when  Dr.  Aiken 
preached  a  sermon  from  2  Chron.  6:18,  "on  the  end  for 
whicli  houses  of  worship  are  reared,  and  the  means  by  which 
that  end  can  be  secured."  The  occasion  was  one  of  mem- 
orable interest,  as  the  preacher  gave  utterance  to  his  earnest 
thoughts  on  tlie  duty  of  public  worship,  and  the  obligation 
that  binds  men  to  make  the  services  of  the  earthly  sanctuary 
the  means  of  preparation  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

From  that  date  no  essential  changes  were  made  in  the 
structure  or  furnishing  of  the  house  till  1857,  when  the 
pulpit  was  refitted,  the  aisles  recarpeted,  and  the  pews  paint- 
ed, the  expense  being  defrayed  by  the  ladies  of  the  congre- 
gation. In  1858  the  chapel,*  a  tasteful  and  convenient  build- 
ing for  social  worship  was  erected  by  the  contributions  of 
individuals.  On  January  20,  1859,  it  was  dedicated  by  suit- 
able religious  services.  Other  outlays  have  been  made,  as 
occasions  required,  for  the  preservation  of  the  meeting-house 
and  the  comfort  of  the  worshippers.  By  the  latest  of  these 
appropriations  the  gallery  has  been  shut  off  and  the  audi- 
ence-room reduced  to  the  original  dimensions,  the  windows 
furnished  with  new  sash-lights,  the  close  pulpit  exchanged 
for  an  open  platform,  with  chairs  and  desk  of  choice  work- 
manship, while  a  new  and  superior  organ,  on  a  raised  floor, 
for  the  singers,  at  the  west  side  of  the  pulpit,  brings  the 
choir  before  the  audience  and  within  easy  communication 
with  the  preacher. 

It  is  a  pleasant  coincidence  that,  in  refurnishing  this  house, 
these  various  improvements, — the  organ,  the  pulpit,  furniture, 
and  other  valuable  accompaniments,  the  gifts  of  present  and 
former  worshippers,  an  expression  of  love  to  this  church  and 

*  The  contract  for  the  chapel,  taken  by  Jotham  Hartshorn  &  Sons,  was  performed  in 
a  very  satisfactory  manner.    The  entire  cost  was  about  $1,300. 


36 

of  gratitude  to  God  for  benefits  received  here, — should,  with- 
out special  design,  have  been  ready  for  service  to-day. 

As  the  first  tones  from  that  noble  instrument  have  called 
us  to 

"  Praise  God,  from  wliom  all  blessings  flow," 

let  our  hearts  respond  by  a  renewed  consecration  to  the 
author  of  these  mercies, — the  God  of  our  salvation. 

This  house  of  worship,  ante-dating  the  declaration  of  the 
nation's  independence,  has  stood  unharmed  through  the 
changes  of  a  century.  It  has  survived  storms  and  tempests, 
the  perils  of  fire,  and  the  fitful  vicissitudes  of  this  uncertain 
climate.  It  has  witnessed  the  civil  revolutions,  the  modifi- 
cations of  law  and  executive  administrations,  which  intro- 
duced the  republican  form  of  government,  and  have  made  the 
United  States  of  America  a  great  name  among  the  nations 
of  the  earth.  It  has  also  witnessed  changes  in  arts  and  man- 
ufactures, in  social  customs,  employments,  modes  of  travel, 
and  of  domestic  life,  by  wliich  we  are  far  removed  from  the 
simple, — I  might  say  the  straitened, — habits  of  the  fatliers. 

Of  the  four  generations  who  have  worshipped  in  this  sanctu- 
ary, the  first  two  were  usually  clothed  in  homespun  gar- 
ments, the  handiwork  of  wives  and  daughters  who  put  their 
hands  to  the  distafi",  and  wrought  in  wool  and  flax  and  divers 
colors  of  needle-work.  It  was  no  unusual  sight,  of  a  Sab- 
bath morning  in  the  olden  times,  to  see  at  the  farmer's  door 
the  horse,  with  saddle  and  pillion,  prepared  for  the  meeting. 
The  older  boys  and  girls  having  set  forth  on  foot  at  an  earlier 
hour, — the  father  mounted  to  hold  a  child  in  front,  and  the 
mother  taking  the  seat  behind,  with  the  youngest  in  her 
arms, — the  family  became  one  troop  as  they  reached  the 
place  of  worship.  It  seems  hardly  credible,  that,  as  late  as 
1820,  women  of  excellent  standing  in  the  out-districts  walked 
to  meeting  with  bare  feet,  carrying  shoes  and  stockings  in  hand 
until  nearing  the  church,  when  they  put  on  these  articles  for 
the  service,  which  were  to  be  taken  off  again  as  they  went 


3T 

home.  Amidst  the  snows  of  winter,  ox-sleds  were  often  in 
requisition  for  the  accommodation  of  neighboring  households 
and  the  abounding  delight  of  the  young  people.  At  the  close 
of  the  religious  services  by  which  this  house  was  dedicated, 
we  are  told  by  Dea.  Samuel  Wilkins  that  the  assembled  min- 
isters and  dignitaries  dined  at  the  house  of  his  father.  The 
principal  dish  on  the  table  was  hasty-pudding  and  milk. 
"  While  they  were  eating,  lie  told  them  a  ludicrous  story 
about  catching  a  sheep,  at  which  'ye  fathers  were  well  pleased, 
and  the  pudding  flew  well.'" 

Other  details  of  that  and  succeeding  periods  would  have 
an  equally  strange  and  novel  air  to  the  larger  portion  of  this 
audience.  The  state  and  customs  of  society  existing  in  Dr. 
Lord's  day  are  very  much  changed.  The  great  progress  in 
the  knowledge  and  science  of  music,  the  greatly  enlarged 
and  improved  collections  of  psalmody,  all  the  new  and  per- 
fected arrangements  for  lighting  and  warming  our  houses  of 
worship,  illustrate  the  real  advancement  which  has  been 
made  in  our  civilization.  Very  few,  probably,  in  this  house 
have  heard  a  hymn  "  lined  off"  by  the  pastor  in  the  Sabbath 
worship.  That  practice  has  ceased  with  the  noise  of  viols, 
and  the  long  drawn  note  of  the  pitch  pipe.  The  days  of  the 
pillion,  of  foot-stoves,  of  home-spun  garments  and  the  ty th- 
ing-men, are  gone — gone,  as  irrecoverably  as  the  stone  horse- 
block from  which  sheriff  Kelley  proclaimed,  by  beat  of  drum, 
the  birth-day  of  the  nation,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1776. 

The  meeting-house,  as  the  name  indicates,  was  the  place 
of  all  public  gatherings.  Here  the  citizens  assembled  in 
their  primary  meetings  to  vote  on  town  affairs  ;  here  they 
rallied  in  patriotic  conventions  ;  here  they  listened  on  recur- 
ring anniversaries  to  civic  orations,  agricultural  addresses, 
educational  lecturers,  and  whatever  might  be  judged  profita- 
ble to  the  body  politic.  Jury  trials  have,  on  more  than  one 
occasion,  been  held  within  these  walls,  and,  in  1794,  the 
members  of  the  two  houses  of  the  New  Hampshire  legisla- 
ture stood  here,  with  uncovered  heads,  to  unite  in  seeking 


38 

the  Divine  guidance  and  blessing  on  their  deliberations.  It 
is  probable  that  the  sessions  of  the  larger  branch  of  that 
body  were  held  in  this  room,  for  the  want  of  better  accom- 
modations. 

This  house,  always  open  to  the  sons  and  daughters  of  sor- 
sow,  has  not  been  frequently  used  for  funeral  services, — our 
afflicted  families  preferring  a  more  private  ceremonial ;  and 
it  has  never  been  a  fashion  with  us  to  resort  to  this  place  for 
the  solemnization  of  marriages.  Yet  no  other  spot  is  asso- 
ciated more  vividly  with  all  those  social  changes — the  sea- 
sons of  sorrow  and  of  joy  that  make  life  memorable — than 
this  sanctuary.  Hither  you  came  in  early  childhood,  delight- 
ing in  the  stirs  and  shows  of  the  goodly  company  that 
thronged  the  way  to  the  place  of  worship.  Here  you  felt 
that  mysterious  pressure  of  reverent  sentiment  that  accom- 
panies the  presence  of  large  numbers  really  intent  on  God's 
worship.  Here  you  listened  to  prayer  and  praise,  with  emo- 
tions intensified  by  conscious  union  witli  others  engaged  in 
the  same  duty.  Here  you  have  been  pleased  and  wearied, — 
sometimes  longing  to  hear  more,  and  then  impatient  to  be 
released,  as  your  mood  or  your  tastes  may  have  harmonized 
with  the  preacher's  efforts.  Here,  too,  you  have  known  the 
power  of  revealed  truth,  enlightening  your  conscience,  search- 
ing your  understanding,  and  awakening  a  sense  of  accounta- 
bility unfelt  elsewhere.  Whatever  your  use  or  improvement  of 
the  hours  spent  here,  I  know  there  are  associations  connect- 
ed with  the  old  meeting-house  that  stir  the  deepest  springs 
of  your  being.  There  is  something  in  the  company  of  fathers 
and  mothers,  of  kindred,  companions,  and  neighbors,  which 
lends  a  pathos  and  weight  to  the  word  spoken  here  that  few 
can  resist.  The  audience-room  may  be  architecturally  defec- 
tive, the  walls  cold  and  unsightly ;  there  may  be  much 
that  is  grotesque  in  the  dress  or  conduct  of  the  worshippers ; 
and  yet,  if  Christ  be  preached  and  God  worshipped,  the  rude 
structure  is  tliereby  sanctified,  and  we  say,  This  is  holy 
ground. 


39 

This  is  true  of  hundreds  of  our  New  England  temples,  but 
emphatically  is  it  true  to  us,  when  we  stand  in  the  sanctuary 
where  our  fathers  worshipped ;  when  we  crowd  the  pews 
where  mothers,  sisters,  and  brothers  sat  by  our  sides  and 
heard  the  gospel ;  when  we  walk  the  aisles  where  we  took 
upon  us  the  vows  of  the  Christian  profession,  "  avouching 
the  Lord  to  be  our  God,  and  giving  ourselves  to  Jesus  Christ 
as  the  only  Saviour."  Here  we  "  were  made  partakers  of  the 
heavenly  gift,  and  tasted  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come." 

"But  will  God  in  very  deed  dwell  with  men  upon  earth?" 
Of  a  truth,  *'the  Lord  our  God  liath  been  with  us,  as  He 
was  with  our  fathers,"  and  "  the  glory  of  this  latter  house 
has  been  greater  than  of  the  former."  Whatever  the  recog- 
nized value  of  the  established  institutions  of  religion,  in 
their  bearings  on  the  cause  of  good  order,  sound  morals, 
and  popular  education  ;  however  important  the  meeting- 
house, as  a  source  of  healthful  social  influences,  upholding 
law,  encouraging  virtue,  and  strengthening  all  humane  and 
philanthropic  sentiments, — still,  its  supremest  power  comes  of 
the  vital  forces  of  the  gospel,  when  the  preaching  of  Jesus 
Christ  and  him  crucified  becomes  the  wisdom  and  the  power 
of  God  unto  salvation.  Very  memorable  have  been  the  dis- 
plays of  Divine  grace  in  this  sanctuary.  Li  the  great 
ingatherings  of  1831  and  1835,  in  1842,  and  again  in  1849, 
this  church  received  large  accessions  to  its  numbers  and 
strength.  Multitudes  thronged  these  seats  during  those 
seasons  of  religious  impression,  and  the  consequent  changes 
in  character  and  conduct  attest  the  genuineness  of  the  work. 
The  ways  of  the  Spirit  are  by  no  means  uniform,  but,  when- 
ever He  visits  our  congregations,  the  word  becomes  quick 
and  powerful,  a  revealer  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the 
heart.  Then  sinners  are  convinced  of  sin  and  acknowledge 
their  errors :  then  they  see  the  attractions  of  the  cross,  and 
give  themselves  to  the  service  of  Christ,  the  great  Redeemer. 
In  the  experience  of  this  renewing,  sanctifying  power  of  the 
truth,  men  attest  the  superiority  of  the  gospel  to  all  other 


40 

instrumentalities  for  reforming  the  guilty,  and  delivering 
the  enslaved  from  the  bondage  of  sin.  Hence,  the  causes  of 
temperance,  of  missions,  and  of  moral  reformations  find 
their  strength  in  the  sanctuary.  Here  are  witnessed  revivals 
of  the  spirit  of  missions,  renewed  consecrations  to  the  work 
of  temperance  and  benevolence.  As  an  illustration  of  this 
last  experience,  let  me  quote  what  is  recorded  of  such  a 
revival  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Association  in  this 
house  in  1832 :  "  On  Wednesday,  at  the  anniversary  of  the 
New  Hampshire  Bible  Society,  so  enlarged  were  the  hearts 
of  the  people  of  God,  that  a  contribution  was  taken  up  of 
$205.85,  and  a  subscription  made  amounting  to  $819.50, 
besides  two  gold  necklaces  worth  $20.  But  on  Thursday, 
at  the  close  of  the  missionary  sermon  by  Rev.  Edward  L, 
Parker,  of  Derry,  a  missionary  spirit  broke  out  and  pervaded 
the  great  congregation,  and  such  a  scene  was  opened  as 
never  before  was  witnessed  in  New  Hampshire."  It  was 
resolved  to  raise  the  ensuing  year  $6,000  for  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Missionary  Society,  a  large  portion  of  which  was 
pledged  on  the  spot.  About  one  hundred  and  twenty 
entered  their  names  as  life  members.  The  collection, 
including  mouey  and  jewelry,  was  liberal  beyond  the  expec- 
tation of  the  largest  hearts.  Old  Testament  times  seemed 
to  have  returned,  when  ''  they  came,  both  men  and  women, 
as  many  as  were  willing  hearted,  and  brought  bracelets,  and 
ear-rings,  and  rings,  and  tablets,  all  jewels  of  gold :  and 
every  man  that  offered,  offered  an  offering  of  gold  unto  the 
Lord."* 

With  such  testimonies  of  the  Divine  influence,  opening  the 
heart  and  transforming  the  will,  might  be  connected  the  re- 
lation of  personal  experiences  by  which  the  lives  of  many 
have  been  lifted  to  a  superior  plane,  and  the  world  made  bet- 
ter by  their  example.  Very  gladly  would  I  follow  the  history 
and  recount  the  deeds  of  some  of  tlie  early  members  of  this 
church.     I  should  be  glad  to  unfold  the  part  they  took  in  the 

*  Dr.  Bouton's  Historical  Discourse  at  Boscawen,  1859,  p.  45. 


41 

councils  of  the  town,  and  the  self-denial  they  exhibited  in 
planting  and  sustaining  the  institutions  by  which  we  have  so 
largely  profited.  In  the  study  of  their  principles  and  con- 
duct, we  might  learn  the  sources  of  that  far-seeing  wisdom 
and  that  persistent  courage  which  wrested  victories  out  of 
defeat,  and  enabled  them,  in  the  conflict  of  opinions,  to  adopt 
that  line  of  practical  administration  which  grants  liberty 
without  licentiousness,  and  maintains  law  without  oppression. 
Among  the  acts,  resolves,  and  other  papers  submitted  to  the 
town  and  determining  its  action  in  the  forming  period  of  our 
history,  from  1763  to  1789,  there  are  many  sentiments  which 
command  our  admiration  for  their  just  expression  of  moral 
and  political  truth.  After  a  survey  of  the  lives  of  the  men 
who  occupied  leading  positions  in  the  church  and  commu- 
nity,— whose  sepulchres  are  with  us  unto  this  day, — it  would 
not  be  less  profitable  to  follow  the  steps  and  trace  the  influ- 
ence of  many  who  have  gone  forth  from  this  church  to  find 
employment  elsewhere.  I  would  gladly  repeat  the  record  of 
some  who  have  finished  their  course,  having  kept  the  faith. 
I  can  think  of  one,  and  another,  and  another,  of  godly  men 
and  saintly  women,  who,  having  witnessed  a  good  confession 
in  larger  spheres,  have  chosen  to  rest  at  last  in  our  village 
cemetery.  Their  memory  is  blessed.  I  have  in  mind  others, 
yet  active,  who  are  pillars  of  beauty  and  strength  in  the  towns 
and  cities  of  their  Adoption,  who  remember  with  liveliest 
gratitude  the  old  meeting-house,  where  in  early  childhood 
they  were  taught  the  sure  principles  of  the  word  of  God,  and 
W'here,  in  opening  manhood,  they  entered  into  covenant  with 
Christ  and  his  people.  Other  witnesses  there  are,  daughters 
like  unto  corner  stones,  polished  after  the  similitude  of  a 
palace; — but  I  w411  not  multiply  testimonies  to  prove  that 
the  Lord  has  been  with  us  as  he  was  with  the  fathers,  and 
that  the  old  meeting-house  is  not  past  useful  service. 

"Peace  be  within  this  sacred  place, 
And  joy  a  constant  guest! 
With  holy  gifts  and  heavenly  grace 
Be  her  attendants  blest ! " 


42 

Among  the  thoughts  suggested  by  this  Imrried  survey  of 
the  past  and  its  customs,  the  habits,  usages,  and  places  of 
worship,  the  men  and  women  into  whose  labors  we  have 
entered,  I  mark  the  unity,  the  identity  of  human  interests, 
in  all  this  diversity.  How  like  us  in  hopes  and  fears,  in  anx- 
ieties, affections,  and  joys,  the  departed  generations !  How 
akin  in  sorrows,  sickness,  bereavements,  and  death  !  We 
smile  perhaps  at  their  errors,  pronounce  upon  their  faults, 
and  think  that  we  are  better  than  they.  We  read  of  their 
hardships,  their  patient  endurance,  their  courageous  indus- 
try, their  reverence  for  God,  their  pious  observance  of  the 
Sabbath,  with  a  conviction  that  they  were  better  than  we. 
So  the  balance  of  our  judgment  vibrates; — but  how  like  us, 
in  their  deepest  wants,  their  aspirations,  their  hearts'  desires! 
and  how  clear  that  the  onlj^  abiding  satisfaction,  for  us  as 
for  them,  is  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  duty,  the  exercise  of 
right  affections,  and  the  sustaining  power  of  a  hope  in  the 
Divine  mercy !  There  is  no  better  lesson  accompanying 
their  history  than  this  testimony,  that  our  sufficiency  is  not 
of  ourselves.  Our  obligations  to  the  fathers  are  great.  For 
us  they  cleared  the  forests,  made  highways,  reared  the 
churches,  wrought  out  problems  in  civil  and  religious  polity. 
We  live  in  better  houses,  have  more  freedom,  more  wealth, 
more  culture  and  privileges,  because  of  their  labors  ;  but  in 
all  that  experience,  so  varied  and  instrifetive,  comes  the  re- 
peated admonition, — "  Man  shall  not  live  by  bread  alone  !" 

Again  :  as  we  go  over  the  history,  it  occurs  to  us  that  all 
these  persons,  whatever  their  occupations  or  characters,  are 
gone !  They  have  died.  Not  the  chief  actors  only, — the 
preachers  and  singers,  the  magistrates  and  deacons,  the 
land-owners,  the  lawyers  and  eloquent  orators, — but  all,  the 
mothers,  the  maidens,  the  Monson  folks,  the  federalists,  the 
republicans,  the  few  colored  people — all  that  busy,  plotting, 
striving  multitude,  those  who  did  and  those  who  did  not  go 
to  meeting,  are  dead  !  And  of  all  that  thought,  labor,  desire, 
enjoyment,  what  abides  ?    "  The  fathers,  where  are  they  ?  and 


43 

the  prophets,  do  they  live  forever  ?  "  Before  another  period  like 
this  which  we  review  is  passed,  all  of  this  audience  will  have 
joined  the  mighty  congregation  of  tlie  dead.  These  dwellers 
on  the  western  heights,  these  children  from  abroad,  these 
citizens  from  adjoining  towns,  these  familiar  faces  of  neigh- 
bors and  companions  who  greet  ns  on  the  street,  will  be 
gone !  Some  will  try  to  keep  alive  our  names.  Some, 
possibly,  may  be  curious  to  learn  what  part  we  acted,  to  what 
end  we  lived.  Whatever  the  judgment  posterity  may  pro- 
nounce on  us,  let  us  not  forget  the  final  trial  that  is  to 
search  every  man's  work  of  what  sort  it  is. 

To  this  end,  let  us  pray, — "  The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us 
as  he  was  with  our  fathers,"  enabling  us  to  avoid  their 
errors,  to  imitate  their  excellence,  and  make  sure  of  His 
salvation. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BAPTIST  CHUECH. 

BY   REV.  ALBERT  HEALD,  PASTOR.  \>-^'*'*  "^  *^*^ 

On  the  second  day  of  the  present  month  (January,  1874), 
the  Baptist  church  had  been  constituted  forty-four  and  a  half 
years.  Prior  to  its  formation  there  were  a  number  of  persons, 
living  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  who  held  the  distinctive 
sentiments  of  the  Baptists;  but  these  resided  chiefly  on  Chest- 
nut hill  and  in  that  vicinity.  Many  of  these  held  their  rela- 
tions with  different  churches  in  neighboring  towns ;  others  had 
not  connected  themselves  with  any  religious  body. 

The  first  organization  for  the  purpose  of  securing  preaching 
was  formed  October  6,  1828,  with  the  following  declaration  of 
purpose:  "Being  deeply  sensible  of  the  importance  of  the 
preached  as  well  as  the  written  word,  to  ourselves  and  families ; 
the  privations  that  we,  who  live  in  this  vicinity,  have  to  under- 
go, by  being  located  so  far  from  the  ministrations ;  and  believing 


44 


that  it  is  our  duty  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  a  preached 
gospel,  and  that  united  exertions  are  both  desirable  and  bene- 
ficial,— we  feel  it  our  duty  and  privilege  to  procure  as  many 
persons  in  this  region  as  are  willing  to  sign  this  paper  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  a  religious  society,  denominated  the  First 
Baptist  Society,  in  Amherst,  IST.  H." 

To  this  the  following  names  were  subscribed  at  its  formation, 
to  which  many  others  weie  afterwards  added: 

Ealph  Holbrook,  James  Prince, 

Ebenezer  Holbrook,  Robert  Fletcher, 

Oliver  Mears,  Otis  Fletcher, 

Franklin  Mears,  Benjamin  Damon, 

Henry  Tewksbury,  John  Washer, 

Joseph  Harvill,  Benjamin  R.  Shepherd, 

John  Rollins,  Joseph  Harriden. 

A  constitution  was  prepared  and  adopted,  in  which  two  very 
important  principles  are  announced  as  the  fundamental  ground 
of  their  action : 

"1.  That  morality  and  piety,  governed  on  evangelical  princi- 
ples, give  the  besi  and  greatest  happiness  in  society. 

"  2,  That  the  public  worship  of  the  Deity  is  the  best  way  of 
promoting  this  morality  and  piety." 

The  church  was  organized  on  July  2,  1829.  Letters  were 
sent  to  the  churches  in  Londonderry,  Milford,  New  Boston, 
Weare,  and  Goffstown. 

The  following  ministers  were  present :  Rev.  Samuel  Abbott 
and  Rev.  Isaac  Durrah,  Londonderry;  Rev.  Samuel  Everet, 
Milford;  Rev.  John  Atwood,  New  Boston;  and  Rev.  Simon 
Fletcher,  Goffstown. 

The  council  consisted  of  twelve  members.  Rev.  Samuel  Ab- 
bott was  chosen  moderator,  and  Rev.  S.  Fletcher,  clerk. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  original  members  of  the  church.  A 
few  may  be  still  living,  but  they  have  long  since  removed  their 
relation  to  other  churches,  or  gone  to  their  rest  and  reward. 

They  held  their  meetings  at  first  on  Chestnut  hill,  and  con- 
tinued them  there  until  1837. 

In   1835,  on   February  3,   a  protracted   meeting   was    com- 


45 

menced,  conducted  by  Rev.  John  Peacock,  and  continued  six- 
teen days.  This  was  the  commencement  of  one  of  the  most 
extensive  revivals  ever  enjoyed  in  this  community.  The  first 
sermon  was  preached,  by  tlie  leader  of  the  meeting,  from  John 
11 :  56, — "  What  think  ye,  that  he  will  not  come  up  to  the  feast?" 
He  did  come  in  wonderful  power,  so  that,  literally,  there  was  not 
room  enough  to  receive  the  blessing.  Multitudes  came  from  all 
the  surrounding  sections,  were  filled,  and  carried  away  the 
sweet  influence  of  the  Spirit's  presence.  The  work  spread  to 
the  north,  east,  south,  and  west.  The  school-house  where  they 
held  their  meetings  became  altogether  too  strait  for  them.  The 
windows  were  removed  from  the  north  end  of  the  house,  and 
large  numbers  were  accommodated  on  the  ground  or  ledge  that 
rose  gradually  from  the  north  side  of  the  building.  That  they 
could  have  been  comfortable  at  this  season  was  remarkable.  He 
who  moved  in  the  meeting,  melting  hard  hearts,  ordered  the 
weather  so  that  it  met  their  circumstances.  Another  method 
was  also  adopted  to  meet  the  emergency  :  the  congregation  was 
divided.  In  the  morning,  durmg  a  part  of  the  time,  the  uncon- 
verted assembled  at  the  school-house,  while  Christians  met  at 
the  house  of  Dea.  J.  Harvill, — the  former  to  listen  to  a  sermon, 
and  the  latter  to  hold  a  season  of  prayer.  In  the  afternoon  the 
order  was  reversed.  Christians  met  at  the  school-house,  and 
anxious  inquirers  at  the  private  dwelling.  There  are  many 
now  living  who  remember  these  scenes  very  distinctly,  and  are 
cheered  as  they  recount  what  God  did  for  them. 

Rev.  J.  Peacock,  who  was  a  native  of  Amherst,  and  led  these 
meetings,  after  nearly  forty  years  of  hard  service,  with  glorious 
results,  as  an  evangelist,  has  returned  to  his  native  town,  ex- 
pecting to  make  it  his  home  the  remainder  of  his  days,  and  rest 
at  last  with  his  kindred.  He  was  greatly  assisted  in  these  meet- 
ings by  Rev.  Silas  Aiken,  then  pastor  of  the  Congregationalist 
church,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Savage,  of  Bedford.  The  church, 
which  has  for  one  hundred  years  worshipped  in  this  house,  re- 
ceived the  largest  accessions  to  its  numbers  during  this  year  of 
any  for  the  century  just  now  closed.  There  were  many  scores 
that  found  Christ,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  from  the  interest 
connected  w^ith  this  protracted  effort. 

On  these  hills  was  this  church  first  constituted :  and  it  may  be 


46 

asked  why  they  did  not  remain  there.  Paradoxical  as  it  may 
seem,  it  was  because  God  had  so  abundantly  blessed  them. 
This  church  was  not  very  much  strengthened,  and  this  w^as  ow- 
ing mainly  to  their  location.  As  one  result  of  the  revival,  they 
dismissed  a  part  of  their  number  to  form  a  church  at  Bedford. 
Like  the  fimily  in  an  out-of-the-w\ay  place  on  the  hills,  their 
spiritual  children  did  not  remain  at  home.  Yet  for  a  time  they 
clung  to  the  hill,  for  there  w^ere  many  precious  associations  clus- 
tering around  it.  They  loved  the  place,  for  here  had  God  glo- 
riously manifested  the  powder  of  his  grace  and  truth. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  procure  a  lot  upon  which  to 
build  a  meeting-house.  The  place  wns  selected  and  staked  out; 
but  this  w^as  the  extent  of  the  movement  in  this  direction. 
These  Christians  had  before  gone  long  distances  to  meeting;  and 
they  could  again  make  a  sacrifice  for  the  cause.  Some  of  them 
had  made  a  journey  very  regularly  to  Milford,  of  eighteen  miles 
out  and  back,  to  attend  meeting  on  the  Sabbath.  It  must  be 
conceded  that  something  more  than  mere  captiousness,  or  ca- 
price, or  prejudice  prompted  them,  especially  when  they  were 
obliged  to  pass  this  house,  where  such  men  as  Rev.  Nathan  Lord 
and  Rev.  Silas  Aiken  preached  the  gospel  with  so  much  ear- 
nestness and  power. 

In  1837  they  moved  their  meeting  to  the  village.  To  many 
of  them  it  was  a  great  sacrifice.  For  a  time  they  had  no  cer- 
tain abiding-place.  Sometimes  they  worshipped  in  the  school- 
house,  sometimes  in  a  hall  over  a  store  situated  on  the  common 
near  where  the  monument  now  stands,  and  sometimes  in  the 
court-house.  Nov.  19th,  1841,  the  record  reads, — "Being  de- 
prived of  the  use  of  the  court-house,  w^e  made  arrangement 
to  w^orship  in  the  Unitarian  house."  This  they  continued  to  do 
for  a  part  of  the  time  for  three  years,  w'hen  the  house  wms  con- 
veyed by  the  Christian  society  to  the  First  Baptist  society  in 
Amherst,  by  deed  dated  April  7,   1844. 

A  condition  in  the  subscription  to  the  shares  for  the  building 
of  this  house  was,  that  the  Christian  society  should  transfer  the 
house  to  any  other  religious  society  when  they  should  hold  two 
thirds  of  the  pews  in  the  same.  This  condition  being  secured 
to  the  Baptist  society  by  purchase  and  transfer,  at  an  expense 
of  between  $1,000  and  $1,100;  it  was   accordingly   deeded  to 


47 

them  by  snid  Cliristian  society,  and  it  has  for  the  last  thirty 
years  been  their  pLace  of  worship.  In  1851  the  house  was 
repaired  at  an  expense  of  |300,  and  again,  in  1870,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $500. 

Bequests.  The  first  bequest  was  made  by  Fanny  G.  Flinn, 
May  8th,  1838,  of  $90,  to  be  expended  in  annual  instalments  of 
85  each.  The  second  was  made  by  James  Prince,  of  the  income 
of  $200  for  ten  years.  The  third  was  left  by  Joseph  Harvill, 
of  $200.  The  fourth,  of  $1,000,  by  Mrs.  Lucy  Coggin,  to  pur- 
chase a  parsonage,  was  offered  on  condition  that  tlie  church  and 
society  would  raise  $500  to  repair  the  meeting-house ; — which 
was  done.  Mr.  Luther  Coggin  gave  the  lumber  to  build  a 
stable.  Miss  S.L.  Lawrence  left  by  will  $250  to  purchase  a  bell. 
This  now  amounts  to  about  $300.  Besides  these,  there  have 
been  gifts  of  a  Bible  and  hymn-book  for  the  desk,  a  cabinet  organ 
for  the  choir,  chairs  for  the  altar,iand  a  beautiful  communion  set, 
by  Mrs.  Mary  Twiss  and  her  children. 

Pastors.  The  church  was  supplied  by  different  individuals, 
for  a  sliort  period  each,  for  tlie  first  twelve  years : 

Rev.  Mason  BxILL — Settled  Aug.  1,  1841;  closed  his  laborjg 
Feb.  18,  1844. 

Rev.  Aaron  Hayes — Settled  March  17,  1844;  closed  his 
labors  March  30,  1845. 

Rev.  Amasa  Brown — Settled  May  2,  1845  ;  closed  his  labors 
April  7,  1847. 

Rev.  David  Burroughs — Settled  Aug.  1, 1849;  closed  his  la- 
bors Dec,  1854. 

Rev.  Samuel  'Jones — Settled  May  11 ,  1856 ;  closed  his  labors 
May  10,  1857. 

The  pulpit  was  supplied,  during  the  winter  of  1857-58,  by 
Rev.  John  H.  Thyng.  During  the  winter  of  1858-59  Rev. 
Samuel  Cook  supplied  the  church. 

Rev.  Amos  W.  Boardman — Settled  July  31, 1859;  closed  his 
labors  July  14,  1861. 

Rev.  J.  Baskwell — Settled  Dec.  4,  1863;  closed  his  labors 
Dec.  31, 1865. 

Rev.  John  Peacock  supplied  the  church  from  Feb.  1,  1866, 
for  nearly  two  years. 


48 

Rev.  Eli  P.  Notes — Settled  April  1,  1S68 ;  closed  his  labors 
Nov.  1,  1870. 

Rev.  Albert  Heald — Settled  Jan.  1,  1870,  whose  pastorate 
still  continues. 

Deacons.     The  church  has  been  served  by  nine  deacons : 

1.  Benj.  Damon,  5.  Edward  M.  Holt, 

2.  Joseph  Harvill,  6.  Joseph  Russell, 

3.  William  Goodnow,  7.  Samuel  Fletcher, 

4.  Simeon  Wilson,  8.  Josiah  M.  Parker, 

9.  Daniel  Cram. 

Statistics.  About  three  hundred  have  united  with  the 
church.  It  is  impossible  to  decide  correctly  from  the  records. 
All  the  original  names  are  wanting.  One  hundred  and  ten  have 
been  baptized ;  one  hundred  a^^id  forty  added  by  letter,  and  ten 
by  experience.  Some  have  been  added  when  no  record  has 
been  made ;  and  some  evidently  dismissed  in  the  same  manner. 

Incidents.  The  first  communion  occurred  on  August  16, 
1829;  the  first  baptism,  November  7,  of  the  same  year.  The 
first  case  of  discipline  was  commenced  January  15,  1832.  The 
case  was  continued,  and  April  14th  it  voted  to  give  Sister  N. 
seven  months  to  become  reconciled ;  quite  a  probation,  but  not 
a  hundredth  part  as  long  as  God  grants  to  many  a  poor  sinner  to 
become  reconciled  to  him.  On  July  6,  1833,  this  probation 
closed  without  a  reconciliation, — the  seven  months  having  been 
lengthened  to  fifteen. 

The  first  death  occurred  March  27,  1846,  sixteen  years  and 
eight  months  after  the  organization ;  the  last  death,  December 
27,  1873,  of  brother  Willie  P.  Upton,  who  united  about  eigh- 
teen months  before.  He  was  an  active,  growing  Christian,  and 
a  young  man  of  much  jiromise.  May  all  the  members  be  as 
well  prei>ared  and  as  willing  to  go,  when  their  Lord  shall  call 
for  them,  as  was  this  young  brother. 


A   BRIEF    HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


CHURCH  IN  MONT  VERNON, 

PRESENTED   BY  THE  ACTING   PASTOR, 

REV.    S.    H.    KEELER,    D.    D., 

At  the  Centennial  of  the  Erection  of  the  Congregational 
Meeting-house,  in  Amherst,  January  i8,  1874. 


The  daughter  of  ninety-tliree,  residing  at  Mont  Yernon,  hav- 
ing been  invited  by  her  venerable  mother,  aged  one  hundred 
and  thirty-three,  to  hold  a  united  service  with  her,  January  18, 
1874,  in  observance  of  the  centennial  of  the  erection  of  her 
sanctuary,  in  which  they  formerly  worshipped  together,  cheer- 
fully complied  with  the  request,  gave  up  her  public  worship  at 
home,  and,  with  her  pastor,  passed  the  Sabbath  with  the  parent 
church. 

Having  in  the  morning  listened  with  great  interest  to  the  his- 
torical sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Davis,  and  having  been  requested 
to  occupy  a  part  of  the  afternoon  in  reminiscences  of  the  church 
in  Mont  Vernon,  the  pastor  presented  the  following  brief  his- 
torical sketch.  Having  also  been  requested  to  furnish  a  copy 
of  the  same,  that  it  might  be  published  with  the  sermon  of  Dr. 
Davis  and  other  services  of  the  day,  the  following  pages,  with 
some  additions,  are  hereby  offered  for  the  above  purpose  : 

The  church  in  Mont  Vernon  was  organized  as  the  second 
church  in  Amherst,  September,  1780,  by  a  council  called  for 
that  purpose.  Who  composed  the  council  I  have  not  been  able 
to  ascertain,  as  no  records  of  these  transactions  are  to  be  found, 
nor  of  the  church  itself,  for  some  thirteen  years,  nor  have  I  been 
able  to  learn  tlie  number  that  composed  the  church  at  its  forma- 
tion. There  is  traditional  proof,  however,  that  the  original 
4 


50 

members  were  quite  remarkable  for  tlieir  sound,  intelligent 
orthodoxy,  and  the  quiet  yet  decided  earnestness  of  their  piety. 
I  have  been  informed,  also,  that,  soon  after  the  organization  of 
the  church,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Coggin,  of  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  preached 
to  a  Large  congregation  in  Major  Cole's  barn,  on  the  importance 
of  erecting,  without  delay,  a  house  of  worship;  an  undertaking 
of  no  small  difficulty,  amid  the  pecuniary  stress  of  those  revo- 
lutionary days.  The  sermon,  however,  was  decidedly  effective. 
On  the  following  April,  each  farmer  in  the  settlement  not  only 
contributed  freely  his  quota  of  timber,  which,  according  to  the 
fashion  of  those  times,  Avas  timber  loith  a  loitness^hoth.  in  dimen- 
sions and  tceight^  but  they  drew  it  quite  the  last  of  the  month, 
on  a  depth  of  ice-crusted  snow,  above  which  neither  fence  nor 
wall  was  visible.  Fifty-four  persons  were  legally  constituted 
the  Second  Parish  in  Amherst,  in  June,  1781. 

They  are  spoken  of  as  a  band  of  resolute,  noble,  and  pious 
men,  whose  orthodoxy  was  unquestionable,  and  who  felt  that 
they  were  laying  the  foundation  for  future  generations.  A  lot 
of  land  having  been  given  to  the  parish  by  Lieut.  James  Wood- 
bury, the  house  was  erected  with  as  little  delay  as  possible,  and 
gradually  finished,  as  the  people  were  able.  There  is  no  record 
of  its  formal  dedication.  During  the  first  winter,  so  urgent  was 
the  demand  for  the  church,  that,  though  but  partially  fitted  up 
for  the  purpose,  and  entirely  destitute  of  any  warming  appara- 
tus, yet  the  house  was  well  filled  with  worshippers,  some  of 
whom  w^alked  even  from  Chestnut  hills,  five  miles  distant. 
Among  these  were  not  only  strong  men,  but  noble  and  resolute 
women. 

The  new  church  and  parish,  although  supplied  with  preaching 
by  several  candidates  for  the  pastorate,  were  destitute  of  a  set- 
tled minister  till  Nov.  3,  1785,  when  Rev.  John  Bruce  became 
their  first  pastor.  He  was  a  native  of  Marlboro',  Mass.,  born 
Aug.  31,  1757 ;  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  college  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four,  where,  by  his  studious  habits,  his  mild,  serious,  and 
dutiful  character,  he  won  from  his  teachers  the  title  of  "good 
Mr.  Bruce."  After  a  pastorate  of  some  twenty-five  years, — the 
longest  of  any  of  his  successors, — he  suddenly  died  of  apoplexy, 
aged  fifty-one,  on  the  Sabbath  morning  of  March  12,  1809,  with 
his  armor  on.     While  his  people  had  assembled  and  were  wait- 


51 

ing  for  their  pastor,  a  messenger  announced  the  sad  intelligence 
of  his  death, — an  event  sorrowful  to  them,  but  joyful  to  him. 
His  ministry  was  eminently  successful.  The  whole  number 
added  to  the  church  during  his  pastorate  cannot  be  definitely 
stated,  as  for  several  years  its  records  are  not  to  be  found,  A 
memorandum,  however,  in  the  hand-writing  of  Mr.  Bruce,  has 
been  found,  containing  evidently  a  list  of  church  members  prior 
to  1799,  makhig  the  membership  up  to  that  time,  by  letter  and 
by  profession,  one  hundred  and  ten.  The  year  1799  was  ren- 
dered memorable  not  only  by  the  first  religions  revival  enjoyed 
by  this  church,  but  as  the  first  ever  known  in  this  region.  The 
blessed  result  of  it  to  this  church  was  the  addition  of  fifty  mem- 
bers by  profession,  making  the  whole  number  added  during  Mr. 
Bruce's  ministry  one  hundred  and  sixty.  The  happy  infiuence  of 
this  revival  was  not  limited  to  this  church,  but  extended  far  and 
wide  among  neighboring  churches.  Many  years  afterwards, 
Rev.  Mr.  Bradford,  of  Francestown,  said  that,  when  informed 
of  the  numbers  converted  to  Christ  in  Mont  Vernon,  he  was  so 
much  aifected  that  he  shut  himself  up  for  the  day,  and  wept 
and  prayed.  This  revival  was  not  only  the  harbinger,  but  the 
glorious  beginning,  of  no  less  than  six  or  seven  seasons  of  spe- 
cial religious  interest  with  which  the  church  has  been  favored 
since  that  period. 

The  next  pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  Stephen  Chapin,  a 
graduate  of  Harvard,  and  a  pupil  of  Dr.  Emmons.  He  was  in- 
stalled November,  1809,  and,  after  an  efiicient  pastorate  of  nine 
years,  was  dismissed  November  18,  1818.  During  his  ministry, 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  were  added  to  the  church.  As  the 
result  of  a  revival  in  1817,  fifty-one  professed  Christ  on  one 
occasion.  The  cause  of  his  dismission  was  a  change  of  views  in 
regard  to  the  mode  and  subjects  of  baptism.  He  afterwards 
received  the  honorary  title  of  d.  d.,  and  died  wdiile  president  of 
Columbia  college,  Washington,  D.  C,  October  1,  1846,  aged  67. 
The  next  pastor  of  the  church  was  Rev.  Ebenezer  Cheever,  a  grad- 
uate of  Bowdoin  college.  He  was  ordained  December  18,1819, 
and,  after  a  pastorate  of  between  three  and  four  years,  was  dis- 
missed April  8,  1823.  Twenty-two  members  were  added  to  the 
church  during  his  ministry.  During  the  same  period,  in  1820, 
the^rs^  Sahbath-school  of  the  church  and  society  was  organized. 


52 

It  was  composed  of  children  only.  During  liis  ministry,  tliirty- 
Dine  children  were  consecrated  to  God  by  baptism. 

Mr.  Cheever  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Natlianiel  Kingsbury, 
who  was  ordained  November  8,  18*23,  and,  after  a  ministry  of 
between  twelve  and  thirteen  years,  was  dismissed,  on  account 
of  ill  health,  April  6,  1836.  His  pastorate  was  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  and  successful  of  those  enjoyed  by  the  church.  It 
was  blessed  by  two  revivals  of  great  power  and  thrilling  inter- 
est,— one  in  1828,  resulting  in  an  addition  of  thirty-four  to  the 
church,  the  other  in  1831, — that  period  of  protracted  meetings 
and  of  remarkable  revival  scenes,  the  result  of  A\hich  was  an 
addition  to  the  church  of  some  sixty  by  profession.  Pi-.iyer- 
meetings,  held  at  sunrise,  were  sustained  for  months,  and  con- 
verts v/ent  forth  into  remote  districts  to  aid  in  socird- meetings, 
even  during  the  busiest  seasons  of  the  year.  And  yet,  so  did 
God  favor  his  people  with  health,  Avith  sunshine  and  showers, 
that  their  temporal  prosperity,  even,  was  never  greater.  The 
whole  number  of  members  received  to  the  church  by  letter  and 
profession,  during  the  ministry  of  ]Mr.  Kingsbury,  was  one  hun- 
dre<l  and  fifty-fonr.  Tliis  period  was  distinguished  also  as  the 
beginning  of  the  temperance  reform  in  Mont  Vernon.  The 
difficulties  which  had  to  be  met  at  that  day  can  hardly  be  im- 
agined now.  Then  public  opinion  was  so  opposed  to  it,  that 
even  church  members  would  indignantly  leave  the  sanctuary  if 
the  subject  was  alluded  to  in  the  pulpit.  And  it  is  said  that,  as 
Mr.  Kingsbury  was  passing  in  the  direction  of  the  new  road 
that  was  being  made  between  Mont  Vernon  and  Milford,  he 
overtook  one  of  his  deacons,  with  two  pails  of  liquor,  wdio  ad- 
vised his  minister  to  go  the  old  road,  as  the  workmen  were  so 
intoxicated  on  the  new  one  that  he  would  be  insulted.  Througb 
the  persevering  efforts  of  pastor  and  people,  however,  the  tide 
of  intemperance  was  rolled  back,  if  not  entirely  stayed,  and 
temperance  took  its  appropriate  place  in  the  church  from  that 
day.  In  1837  the  sanctuary  was  removed  to  its  present  loca- 
tion, remodelled,  and  furnished  with  a  bell  and  organ ;  it  was 
also  supplied  with  furnaces,  and  otherwise  rendered  commodious 
and  comfortable. 

The  next  settled  pastor  was  Rev.  Edwin  Jennison,  a  graduate 
from   the  Theological   Seminary  at  Andover.     He  was  installed 


53 

April  6,  1836,  and,  after  a  ministry  of  a  little  more  tlian  five 
years,  was  dismissed  on  account  (»f  ill  health,  Aug.  19,  1811. 
He  was  regarded  as  a  superior  sermonizer,  but  seklom  visited 
his  people.  Twenty-three  were  added  to  the  churcli  during  his 
ministry.  His  health  continuing  to  fail,  he  visited  Europe,  and 
w^as  afterwards  settled  at  Ashburnham,  Mass.  Rev.  Mr.  Jenni- 
son  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  B.  Smith,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth. 
He  was  installed  April  19,  1841,  and,  after  a  ministry  of  some 
nine  years,  was  dismissed  April  30,  1850.  During  his  pastorate, 
thirty-two  were  added  to  the  church.  Several  important  cases 
of  discipline  were  settled ;  and  strong  ground  was  taken  by  the 
church  against  slavery  and  slaveholders. 

His  ministry  was  succeeded  by  that  of  Rev.  Charles  D.  Her- 
bert, who  was  installed  Nov.  6,  1850.  After  a  pastorate  of 
between  five  and  six  years,  he  was  dismissed  July  21,  1856. 
During  this  period, fifty-five  were  added  to  the  church.  In  1852, 
quite  a  number  in  the  academy  became  hopefully  the  disciples 
of  Christ.  The  church  then  numbered  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three,  and  the  average  age  of  the  members  was  about  fifty-six 
years. 

The  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Herbert  was  followed  by  that  of 
Rev.  Charles  E.  Lord,  sc  graduate  of  Dartmouth.  He  was  in- 
stalled Feb.,  1857.  After  the  lapse  of  some  four  years,  he  was 
dismissed,  on  account  of  his  wife's  ill  health,  March,  1861.  Dur- 
ing his  ministry,  thirteen  were  added  to  the  church.  In  a  letter 
of  commendation,  written  to  Mr.  Lord  by  a  committee  of  the 
church  chosen  for  the  purpose,  after  speaking  of  their  regret  at 
parting  with  him,  and  of  the  growing  attachment  of  the  church 
and  people  to  him,  the  committee  bear  the  following  testimony 
to  his  ministrations :  "  They  have  been  highly  acceptable,  and 
his  preaching  clear  and  instructive  ;  and  no  difficulties  have  oc- 
curred to  mar  the  enjoyment  of  the  retrospect." 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Lord  was  followed  by  that  of  Rev.  Geo. 
E.  Sanborn,  a  graduate  of  Amherst  college,  Mass.  He  was 
installed  April  2,  1862,  and,  after  a  pastorate  of  three  years, 
was  dismissed  May  29,  1865,  to  accept  a  call  from  Northboro', 
Mass.  Nine  were  received  to  the  church  during  his  ministry. 
The  church  records  bear  the  following  testimony  of  the  regard 
of  the  church  for  Mr.  Sanborn  while  their  pastor :  ^'-I^esolved, 


54 

That  this  church  highly  appreciate  his  ministerial  and  pastoral 
labors,  and  greatly  regret  that  the  ties  which  have  bound  him 
and  them  together  should  be  so  soon  sundered;  and  they  con- 
sent to  it  only  at  the  call  of  duty." 

As  >ucee.ss()r  to  Mr.  Sanboi'n,  the  Rl-v.  B.  M.  Frink  was  in- 
stalled over  tills  cliureh  and  peo})le  Nov.  1,  18n5,  and  was  dis- 
missed to  .'U-cept  ;i  <-.'ilI  iVoni  the  Ccntr;;!  church,  Portland,  Me., 
Oct.'lJ--^.  18')7.  During  his  ]):istorate  of  f-ojue  two  ye;n's.  forty- 
seven  V.  ere  added  to  the  church.  A  majority  of  these;  v.ere 
received  as  the  fruits  of  a  revival  of  religion  which  occurred 
during  the  winter  and  spring  of  1866, — a  period  of  great  and 
general  interest,  the  results  of  which  were  precious.  The  min- 
istry of  Mr.  Frink  was  eminently  active,  acceptable,  and  labo- 
rious. Added  to  the  good  results  already  noticed,  it  should  be 
mentioned  that  the  pulpit  was  appropriately  remodelled  and 
rendered  more  convenient  and  attractive,  and  the  present  com- 
modious and  much  needed  parsonage  w^as  erected.  Both  these 
improvements  were  largely  owing  to  his  personal  and  persever- 
ing eiforts,  aided  by  the  liberal  offerings  of  the  church  and 
people. 

The  present  acting  pastor  of  the  church  and  people  was  a 
graduate  of  Middlebury  college,  Vt.,  and,  also,  of  the  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  Andover,  Mass.  He  commenced  his  stated  min- 
istry in  Mont  Vernon  April  1,  1868,  having  supplied  the  pulpit 
for  several  Sabbaths  the  previous  winter.  He  declined  the  re- 
quest of  the  church  and  people  for  his  installation,  because, 
when  he  began  his  labors  among  them,  he  thought  his  ministry 
might  be  so  brief  that  it  might  not  be  best  either  for  him  or 
them.  Had  he  supposed  that  his  pastorate  would  be  as  pro- 
tracted and  pleasant  as  it  has  been,  he  woidd  not  only  have 
yielded  to  the  request  of  the  church  and  people  for  installation, 
but  acted  upon  his  own  conviction,  as  a  general  principle,  that 
a  regularly  settled  pastor  is  always  preferable,  other  things  be- 
ing equal,  to  the  comparatively  unsettled  relation  of  an  acting 
pastor.  For  nearly  six  years  the  present  ministry  has  been  one 
of  great  harmony  and  pleasure,  and  attended  with  most  unex- 
pected success,  on  the  part  of  the  incumbent.  Seconded  by  the 
willing  cooperation  of  the  church  and  people,  a  debt  owed  by 
the  latter,  of  some  six  hundred  dollars,  has  been  cancelled;  the 


55 

parsonage  lias  been  improved,  the  sanctuary  has  been  rendered 
more  commodious  and  attractive,  the  organ  has  been  replaced 
by  one  better  suited  to  the  service  of  sacred  song;  and  the  large 
expense  of  these  and  other  improvements  has  been  cheerfully 
met.  It  should  be  mentioned,  also,  that  in  so  doing  the  church 
and  parish  have  been  essentially  aided  by  the  Female  Home  Cir- 
cle, who,  in  various  ways,  have  raised  some  fourteen  hundred 
dollars.  During  the  present  pastorate,  some  eighty  have  been 
added  to  the  church,  making  an  aggregate  of  some  fifteen  per 
year.  Of  this  number,  fifty-three  have  been  added  during  the 
year  1873.  Most  of  these  are  the  precious  fruit  of  the  revival 
of  religion  which  occuri'ed  in  connection  with  a  series  of  re- 
ligious meetings  held  with  the  church  and  people  the  last  of 
April,  the  pastor  being  aided  by  Rev.  Mr.  Potter,  the  evan- 
gelist. The  religious  interest  thus  begun  continued  through 
the  summer  and  autumn,  and,  though  lessened  in  degree,  still 
continues. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  and  even  remarkable  results  of 
this  revival  is,  that  the  large  majority  of  those  who  have  ex- 
pressed hope  in  Christ,  and  united  with  the  church,  are  in  the 
meridian  of  life,  men  of  influence,  and  eight  or  ten  husbands 
and  their  wives ;  there  were  also  several  youth,  and  one  man 
past  four  score  years.  By  these  additions  the  things  that  re- 
mained have  been  strengthened,  and  the  prosperity  and  perpe- 
tuity of  the  church,  which  had  been  seriously  endangered  by 
deaths  and  removals,  have  been  promoted.  The  whole  number 
who  have  united  with  the  church  since  its  formation  in  1780  is 
not  fir  from  eight  hundred.  And,  notwithstanding  the  changes 
by  which  it  has  been  diminished  since  then,  its  present  num- 
ber is  not  far  from  one  hundred  and  seventy,  resident  and  non- 
resident. Tiie  church  has  sent  forth  eight  ministers, — two  at  a 
very  early  day,  viz.,  Joshua  Howard  and  Daniel  Weston ;  more 
recently,  Solomon  Kittredge,  Charles  B.  Kittredge,  J.  W.  Per- 
kins, Darwin  Adams,  H.  A.  Kendall,  and  J.  C.  Bryant.  It  has 
also  supplied  the  churches  in  the  cities  and  large  towns  with 
some  of  their  most  efficient  members.  It  is  estimated  that  some 
fifty  young  men  belonging  to  Mont  Vernon  have  been  prepared  for 
usefulness,  and  gone  forth  to  exert  it  elsewhere,  within  the  last 
fifteen  years,  and  perhaps  as  many  young  women  ;  and,  although 


36 

it  is  o-ratifyiiig  to  know  that  they  are  benefiting  other  commu- 
nities and  other  churches,  it  has  been  evidently  at  the  expense 
of  this  church  and  joeople ;  and  the  more  favored  churches  and 
jDarislies  are  verily  their  debtors.  And  the  same  is  true,  doubt- 
less, with  reference  to  very  many  of  our  rural  places  in  the 
State. 

Such  is  a  brief  and  imperfect  review  of  the  church  and  parish 
of  Mont  Yernon,from  1780  to  1874,  a  period  of  nearly  ninety-four 
years.  The  compiler  has  gathered  the  flicts  and  events  with 
which  it  is  fraught  from  the  most  reliable  sources  within  his 
reach, — partly  from  the  history  of  the  churches  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  partly  from  the  church  records  of  more  recent  date. 
It  is  obviously  suggestive  of  interesting  and  instructive  lessons, 
honorable  to  God,  and  pertinent  to  the  present  generation.  It 
obviously  teaches  the  hopeful  and  encouraging  fact,  that  though 
pastors  may  pass  away,  and  many  who  once  composed  the 
church  may  not  continue,  by  reason  of  death  and  other  remov- 
als, yet  the  church  itself  lives,  and  will  be  immortal  till  its  mis- 
sion is  fulfilled.  What  a  lesson  of  gratitude  does  the  contrast 
between  the  privations  of  the  fathers  and  mothers  of  the  past, 
and  the  privileges  of  to-day,  read  to  the  present  generation  f 
and  how  does  it  enhance  their  obligation  !  How  manifest,  more- 
over, the  faithfulness  of  God  to  his  gracious  promise, — "  Them 
that  honor  me  I  will  honor." 


REMINISCENCES 


FORMER  CITIZENS  AND  NATIVES  OF  AMHERST, 


BY   DANIEL   F.  SECOMB,  CONCORD,  N.  H. 


One  hundred  years  ago  our  fathers  met  to  dedicate  the  house 
their  hands  had  built  to  the  worship  of  the  Builder  of  the  Uni- 
verse. To-day,  but  one  person  then  living  is  numbered  among 
the  living  inhabitants  of  our  town.  Scattered  far  and  near,  the 
ashes  of  the  congregation  then  assembled  rest  in  peace.     Their 


57 

work  is  done.  What  remains  of  it  is  with  us.  We  may  profit 
b}^  their  labors,  and  imitate  their  virtues. 

TJie  long  contest  for  the  possession  of  the  North  American 
continent,  between  France  and  her  savage  allies  on  one  hand, 
and  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies  on  tlie  other,  had  been  closed 
a  few  years  before  by  the  capture  of  Quebec,  and  the  subse- 
quent cession  of  the  French  colonies  to  the  English,  when  the 
English  government,  finding  itself  heavily  in  debt,  proposed  to 
increase  its  revenue  by  taxing  its  thriving  colonies.  Before  con- 
ceding this  claim,  the  colonists  asked  for  a  representation  in 
parliament,  contending  that  taxation  and  representation  should 
go  together.  This  being  denied,  a  conflict  between  the  parties 
became  inevitable.  The  sturdy  backwoodsmen,  descendants  of 
English  Puritans  and  Scotch  Presbyterians,  who  had  fought  and 
conquered  savages  and  wild  beasts,  met  in  deadly  combat  the 
trained  soldiers  of  the  mother  land. 

With  all  its  serious  aspects,  the  contest  had  in  it  a  good  deal  of 
a  grim  sort  of  humor.  When  the  tea  was  forced  upon  the  Bos- 
tonians,  it  was  received  under  protest;  but  a  teapot  of  gener- 
ous dimensions  was  soon  found  by  his  Majesty's  loyal  subjects 
to  steep  it  in,  the  finny  inhabitants  of  Boston  harbor  being 
afforded  an  opportunity  to  participate  in  the  drinking.  And 
when  the  demand  was  made  upon  tlie  colonists  to  deliver  up 
their  arms,  the  Spartan  answer — "Come  and  take  them" — was 
soon  understood  to  include  wiiat  might  be  found  with  them. 
Our  f itlurs  entered  into  tlie  discussions  of  those  stormy  times 
with  s{)irit.  One  month  befi)re  the  dedication  of  the  house, 
the  tea-party  had  Ik-ch  given  at  Boston;  and  fifteen  months 
later  came  tJie  opening  conflicts  of  the  war  at  Lexington  com- 
mon and  Concord  bridge. 

In  May,  1775,  says  Mr.  Fox,  in  the  history  of  Dunstable,  the 
county  of  Hillsborough,  with  a  population  of  fifteen  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  forty-eight,  had  six  hundred  and  fifty  men  in 
the  army,  or  a  little  more  than  one  to  every  twenty-five  of  its 
inhabitants;  and  its  shire  town  was  certainly  not  behind  its 
neighbors  in  patriotism. 

In  April,  1776,  two  hundred  and  one  of  its  male  citizens 
above  twenty-one  years  of  age  signed  a  paper,  now  on  file  in  the 
office  of  the  secretary  of  state,  pledging  themselves,  "  to  the 


58 

utmost  of  their  power,  at  the  risk  of  their  lives  and  fortunes, 
with  arms,  to  oppose  the  hostile  proceedings  of  the  British  fleets 
and  armies  against  the  united  American  colonies." 

Standing  first  on  the  list  of  signers  to  this  bold  defiance  of 
British  power  we  find  the  name  of  Nahum  Baldwin,  the  village 
blacksmith,  representative  to  the  general  court  in  1775  and  1780, 
moderator  of  the  annual  town-meeting,  town  clerk,  and  select- 
man in  1778,  and  for  fourteen  years  a  deacon  of  the  church.  He 
was  appointed  colonel  of  a  regiment,  raised  in  1776,  to  reinforce 
the  army  in  northern  New  York.  This  regiment  was  dismissed 
at  North  Castle  near  the  close  of  the  year.  This  seems  to  have 
been  the  only  military  commission  held  by  him.  He  died  May 
7,  1788,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years.  Some  of  his  descend- 
ants now  reside  in  Antrim,  N.  H. 

Second  on  the  list  we  find  the  name  of  Moses  Nichols,  a 
physician  of  good  repute,  a  native  of  Reading,  Mass.,  who  came 
to  Amherst  early  in  life,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  In  1765,  1768,  and  1773  he  served  as  one  of  the 
selectmen,  was  town  clerk  in  1773,  moderator  in  1767,  1769, 
1770,  1771,  1773,  and  1777,  and  representative  in  1775,  1776, 
and  1781.  He  was  also  register  of  deeds  for  Hillsborough  county 
from  1776  until  his  death.  He  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
fifth  regiment  of  militia  December  5,  1776,  in  place  of  Col. 
Lutwyche,  who  had  joined  the  British ;  commanded  the  right 
wing  of  Stark's  army  in  the  battle  with  the  Hessians  and  tories, 
near  Bennington,  August  16,  1777 ;  was  colonel  of  a  regiment 
in  General  Whipple's  brigade,  at  Rhode  Island,  in  1778 ;  and, 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  was  appointed  brigadier  general  of 
the  fourth  brigade  N.  H.  militia.  He  died  May  23,  1790,  aged 
49  years. 

Stephen  Peabody,  another  signer  of  the  test  paper,  was  an 
active  whig.  He  was  son  of  William  Peabody,  who  came  from 
Boxford,  IMass.,  to  Souhegan  West,  as  early  as  1742.  He  served 
as  one  of  the  selectmen  in  1770,  1772,  1773,  1776,  and  1779,  and 
was  representative  in  1779.  He  was  adjutant  of  Col.  Reed's 
regiment  in  1775;  major  of  a  regiment,  raised  for  the  defence 
of  Portsmouth  and  its  harbor,  in  1776;  captain  of  a  company, 
raised  for  the  relief  of  Ticonderoga,  in  1777 ;  aid  to  Gen.  Stark 
at  Bennington ;  and  lieut.  colonel,  commanding  a  regiment  in 


69 

Gen.  Whipple's  brigade,  in  1778.  He  closed  his  career  Septem- 
ber 19,  1782,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven.  His  remains  rest  in 
the  cemetery  at  Mont  Yernon. 

Prior  to  the  first  of  April,  1777,  one  hundred  and  twenty  of 
the  citizens  of  Amherst  had  been  engaged  in  the  war ;  in  this 
number  were  two  colonels,  one  major,  and  five  captains.  Twenty 
of  its  soldiers  lost  their  lives  in  the  course  of  the  war. 

In  the  census  of  1840  the  following  soldiers  of  the  revolution 
were  returned  as  living  in  Amlierst,  Mont  Yernon,  and  Milford : 

IN  AMHERST.  IN  MONT  VERNON. 

John  Purple,        aged  97        Andrew  Leavitt,  aged  87 

Thomas  Melendy,   " 

Joseph  Crosby,        " 

Nathan  Kendall,     " 

David  Fisk, 

Benjamin  Damon,  " 

Ephraim  Goss,        " 


Joshua  Atherton,"  one  of  the  four  citizens  who  refused  to  sign 
the  test  paper,  was,  so  fir  as  I  am  able  to  learn,  the  only  j^er- 
son  who  was  subjected  to  any  open  persecution  on  account  of 
his  opinions.  He  was  confined  for  a  short  time  in  the  jail  at 
Exeter,  and,  with  his  family,  suffered  other  indignities.  He 
submitted  patiently,  accepting  the  consequences  of  adhering 
to  his  convictions;  and,  at  the  close  of  the  Avar,  was  soon  rein- 
stated in  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  represented 
the  town  in  the  convention  which  ratified  the  federal  constitu- 
tion in  1788,  and  made  a  speech  (almost  the  only  one  made  on 
that  occasion,  which  has  been  preserved)  against  its  adoption. 
He  was  afterwards  representative,  senator,  and  attorney-gen- 
eral.    He  died  April  3,  1S09,  aged  71  years. 

The  declaration  of  independence  was  proclaimed  "by  the 
beat  of  drum,"  by  Moses  Kelley,  sheriff  of  the  county,  from  the 
horse-block,  in  front  of  the  meeting-house,  July  18,  1776.  An 
event  now  transpiring  at  Philadelphia  may  be  known  to  us  in 
five  minutes  afterwards, — such  has  been  the  progress  made  in  the 
mode  of  transmitting  intelligence  within  ninety-eight  years. 


91 

Solomon  Kittredge, 

(; 

85 

87 

Jonathan  Lamson, 

(■(. 

84 

85 

Zephaniah  Kittredge, 

(C 

83 

83 

Israel  Farnum, 

(( 

81 

78 

Daniel  Averill, 

11 

74 

74 

IN    MILFORD. 

Samuel  Lovejoy, 

c; 

84 

Isaac  Burpee, 

C( 

84 

60 

Samuel  Dana  was  one  of  the  worthy  citizens  of  Amherst. 
The  commencement  of  the  revolutionary  war  found  him  settled 
in  the  ministry,  at  Groton,  Mass.,  but  being  suspected  of  flxvor- 
ing  tlie  mother  country,  he  was  compelled  to  relinquish  his 
charge,  and  for  some  time  was  without  any  settled  employ- 
ment; but  in  1783  he  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  the  law. 
On  the  ninth  of  January,  1789,  he  Avas  appointed  judge  of  pro- 
bate for  the  county  of  Hillsborough,  which  office  he  held  for 
some  years.  He  died  April  2,  1798,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine 
years.  He  was  the  first  master  of  Benevolent  Lodge,  No.  7, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  was  buried  with  masonic  hon- 
ors, an  oration  being  pronounced  on  the  occasion  by  Timothy 
Bigelow,  Esq.,  then  a  resident  here. 

One  who  remembered  Judge  Dana  well,  said, — "  He  was  one 
of  the  most  useful  men  that  ever  lived  in  town — ever  active 
and  ready  to  devise  and  execute  plans  for  the  comfort  and  con- 
venience of  its  citizens."  Some  of  his  descendants  have  been 
men  of  note,  and  filled  important  offices  in  the  state.  Among 
them  were  Chief  Justice  Samuel  Dana  Bell,  Senator  James  Bell, 
Dr.  Luther  V.  Bell,  and  Samuel  N.  Bell,  recently  member  of 
congress. 

John  Shepard,  Jr.,  was  a  native  of  Concord,  jNTass.,  and  came 
here  at  an  early  Jigc  with  his  fither,  who  built  the  mills  known 
as  the  Shepard  mills,  on  the  Souhegan  river.  He  served  on  the 
board  of  selectmen  eleven  years,  and  was  also  town  clerk  eleven 
years.  His  record,  after  the  lapse  of  a  century,  is  as  legible  as 
printed  matter.  He  learned  to  write  by  making  characters  with 
his  finger  in  the  dust  which  settled  on  the  boards  in  the  grist- 
mill which  he  tended.  For  some  years  he  was  justice  of  the 
county  court  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  died  at  Milford, 
December' 4;  1802,  aged  seventy. 

William  Gordon,  died  May  8,  1802,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine 
years;  graduated  at  Harvard  college  1779;  was  a  senator  in  the 
legislature,  member  of  congress  three  years,  and  attorney-gen- 
eral. He  built  the  house  afterwards  occupied  by  Hon.  C.  H. 
Atherton,  whose  sister  he  married.  His  son,  William  Gordon, 
graduated  at  Harvard  college,  1806;  ])ractised  law  in  Charles- 
town,  N.  H. ;  and  died  in  the  Asylum  for  the  Insane,  at  Brat- 
tleborough,  Yt.,  January  12,  1871,  aged  83  years. 


61 

Robert  Means,  born  in  Stewartstown,  Ireland,  August  28, 
1742,  settled  here  prior  to  tlie  revolution,  and  soon  became 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  tlie  town.  By  his  industry  and 
application  to  business  he  acquired  a  large  property.  He  rep- 
resented the  town  in  the  legislature  for  three  years,  was  for 
three  years  a  member  of  the  state  Senate,  and  one  year  one  of 
the  govei-nor's  council.     He  died  January  24,  1823. 

Benjauiin  Kendrick,  born  in  Newuon,  Mass.,  January  30, 
1724,  settled  on  what  is  now  the  town  farm,  then  in  Monson, 
in  1749,  and  became  a  citizen  of  Amherst  on  the  annexation  of 
a  part  of  JVIonson  to  this  place,  September  13,  1770.  He  was 
town  clerk  of  Monson  some  years,  and  selectman  of  Amherst 
in  1771.  Plis  daughter  Anna  was  the  wife  of  Governor  Benja- 
min Pierce,  and  the  mother  of  General  Franklin  Fierce,  at  one 
time  president  of  the  United  States.     He  died  Nov.  13,  1812. 

Daniel  Warner  was  a  native  of  Ipswich,  Mass. ;  born  June 
25,  1745.  After  residing  some  years  in  Nashua,  then  Dunstable, 
he  settled  in  Amherst,  of  which  lie  was  a  useful  and  influen- 
tial citizen.  He  was  employed  to  take  the  census  of  Hillsbor- 
ough county  in  1790,  1800,  and  1810.  Was  lieutenant-colonel, 
commanding  5th  regiment  N.  H.  militia,  1796,  moderator  of 
the  annual  town-meeting  in  1798,  and  represented  the  town 
eight  years  in  the  general  court.  He  died  March  20, 1813.  His 
widow  survived,  until  March,  1833.  His  son  Daniel  died  while 
a  member  of  Harvard  college.  John,  another  son,  died  while 
in  service  in  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain. 

Jedediah  Kilburn  Smith,  a  native  of  the  town,  son  of  Jona- 
than Smith,  who  came  here  from  Dan  vers,  Mass.,  represented 
the  town  in  the  general  court  in  1803  and  1804;  was  a  member 
of  the  tenth  congress,  councillor  for  Hillsborough  county  four 
years,  senator  four  years,  justice  of  the  court  of  common  pleas, 
and  post-master.     He  died  December  17,  1828,  aged  59. 

Clifton  Clagett,  son  of  Wyseman  Clagett,  attorney-general 
of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire,  was  born  at  Portsmouth 
December  3,  1762,  settled  in  the  practice  of  the  law  at  Litchfield 
in  1787,  removed  to  Amherst  in  1811,  and  died  here  January 
29,  1829.  He  was  a  member  of  the  eidith,  fifteenth,  and  six- 
teenth congresses,  represented  Amherst  in  the  general  court  in 
1816,  was  justice  of  the  superior  court  for  a  short  time,  and 
judge  of  probate  for  Hillsborough  county. 


Charles  Humphrey  Atherton,  son  of  Joshua  Atherton,  was 
born  August  14,  1773.  For  more  than  forty  years  he  was  register 
of  probate  for  Hillsborough  county,  a  member  of  the  fourteenth 
congress,  represented  the  town  in  the  general  court  in  1823, 1838, 
and  1839,  and  was  for  fifty  years  one  of  the  leading  members 
of  the  Hillsborough  county  bar.  He  died  January  8,  1853. 
His  son,  Charles  Gordon  Atherton,  an  able  lawyer,  was  born  July 
4, 1804;  graduated  at  Harvard  college  1822;  settled  in  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law  at  Nashua;  was  speaker  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives three  years,  representative  to  congress  four  years, 
and  senator  six  years.  He  died  while  senator,  November  15, 
1853. 

Horace  Greeley  was  probably  the  most  widely  known  of  the 
sons  of  Amherst.  He.  was  born  of  good  "  Scotch-Irish  "  stock, 
in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town,  near  Bedford  line,  February 
3,  1811.  Possessing  but  few  of  the  advantages  enjoyed  by  youth 
at  the  present  day,  by  his  energy  and  perseverance  he  wrought 
his  way  up  from  jtoverty  and  obscurity  to  a  commanding  posi- 
tion among  the  journalists  of  the  country  and  the  world.  The 
Tribune^  with  1,250,000  readers,  was  a  power  in  the  land,  and 
its  editor-in-chief  well  deserved  the  title  given  him  by  a  distin- 
guished contemporary — "  Our  later  Franklin."  He  died  Novem- 
ber 29,  1872. 

E[)hraim  Putnam  Bradford,  mentally  and  physically  one  of 
the  greatest  of  the  sons  of  old  Amherst,  was  son  of  Capt.  John 
Bradford,  a  soldier  of  the  revolution,  who  removed  after  the 
close  of  the  war  to  Hancock,  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
three,  June  27,  1836.  The  son  was  born  in  the  north-east  part  of 
the  present  town  of  Milford,  December  27,  1776;  graduated  at 
Harvard  college  in  1803,  and  was  settled  over  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  New  Boston,  February  26,  1806,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death,  December  14,  1845.  With  more  ambition  and 
industry  he  might  have  graced  any  city  pulpit,  or  filled  most 
acceptably  the  place  so  long  held  by  Dr.  Lord  at  Hanover.  To 
him  Clark  B.  Cochrane,  in  his  centennial  address  at  New  Bos- 
ton, applied  the  words  of  the  patriarch  of  Uz, — "  Unto  him 
men  gave  ear,  and  waited  and  kept  silence  at  his  counsel ;  they 
waited  for  him  as  for  the  rain,  and  they  opened  their  mouth 
wide  as  for  the  latter  rain."     Silas  Aiken  (good  authority  here) 


63 

once  wrote  of  liim, — "  He  was,  literally,  one  of  nature's  noble- 
men, of  ])rincely  person,  with  a  sonorous,  commanding  voice, 
exceedingly  fluent  and  accurate  in  speech,  modelled  somewhat 
after  Jolin son's  style,  so  richly  gifted  in  mind  and  heart  that, 
with  little  preparation,  he  stood  among  the  first  preachers  in 
the  state. 

Mary  Manning  Barker,  daughter  of  Dea.  Ephraim  Barker,  to 
whom  he  was  married  September  1,  1806,  was  a  most  worthy 
daughter  of  old  Amherst,  and  a  fit  companion  for  such  a  man. 
She  Avas  bom  October  9,  1785,  and  is  still  living. 

Isaac  Hill  stands  at  tlie  head  of  the  graduates  from  the  Cab- 
inet ofRce.  He  was  born  in  what  is  now  Somerville,  Mass., 
April  6,  1788 ;  removed  with  his  family  to  Ashburnham  in 
1798 ;  came  to  Amherst  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  making  the 
journey  from  Ashburnliam  on  horseback,  seated  behind  his  em- 
ployer. Here  he  remained  seven  years.  On  the  18th  of  April, 
1809,  he  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Neio  Hainpshire  Patriot^ 
at  Concord. "*  This  paper  he  conducted  with  much  ability  for 
twent}^  years,  during  a  large  part  of  which  time  it  was  the  ac- 
knowledged leader  of  the  republican  journals  in  the  state. 
Towards  the  close  of  his  life,  in  connection  with  his  sons,  he 
published  Hills'  JVew  ITampshire  Patriot,  and  the  Farmers' 
Monthly  Visitor,  a  paper  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  farm- 
ers of  New  Hampshire — an  exceedingly  popular  and  useful 
publication. 

He  represented  Concord  in  the  legislature  in  1826;  was  sen- 
ator from  District  No.  4  four  years;  for  a  short  time  second 
comptroller  of  the  U.  S.  treasury;  five  years  U.  S.  senator;  and 
three  years  governor  of  the  state.  He  died  at  Washington, 
March  22,  1851. 

Luther  Roby,  a  native  of  the  town,  son  of  James  Roby, 
born  January  8,  1801,  was,  like  Gov.  Hill,  a  graduate  from  the 
Cabinet  office.  He  removed  to  Concord  late  in  the  autumn  of 
1822,  and,  on  the  sixth  of  January,  1823,  issued  the  first  num- 
ber of  the  N'eio  Ilaynpsliire  Statesman,  of  Avhich  he  was  man- 

*One  who  was  intimate  with  Gov.  Hill  when  in  Amherst,  relates  that  he  met  him 
while  on  his  way  to  Concord  to  establish  the  Patriot.  To  the  inquiry,  Where  are  you 
going?  Hill  replied,— "  I  am  going  to  Concord  to  print  the  truth;  I  have  printed  lies 
long  enough." 


64 

ao-er  nnd  proprietor  for  the  first  six  months  of  its  existence ; 
he,  liowevei-,  disposed  of  his  interest  in  it  before  the  close  of 
its  first  ye;ir,  but  continued  in  the  printing  and  publishing 
business.  In  1832  he  established  a  stereotype  foundry,  where 
he  manafictured  several  sets  of  plates  for  the  Bible,  in  pearl 
type,  they  being  the  first  of  the  kind  made  in  New  England. 
Other  books  were  stereotyped  at  his  foundry,  and  several  sets 
of  plates  manufactured  there  were  sold  to  publisliers  in  other 
places ;  and  large  numbers  of  Bibles,  Testaments,  and  other 
books  have  been  printed  from  them. 

From  phites  manuf::ictured  in  his  foundry,  and  others  pur- 
chased by  him,  he  has  printed  153,000  Bibles,  of  various  styles, 
248,000  Testaments,  110,000  copies  of  Watts's  Psalms  and 
Hymns,  besides  1,000,000  spelling-books,  and  large  numbers  of 
pamphlets.  Latterly  he  has  devoted  much  time  to  opening  and 
working  the  granite  ledges  in  the  city  of  his  residence.  The 
introduction  of  Concord  granite,  as  a  building  material,  will 
add  much  to  the  wealth  of  the  city,  and  furnish  hundreds  of 
its  citizens  with  employment. 

For  nearly  thirty  years  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  fire 
department  of  Concord,  of  which  he  was  chief  engineer  eight 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  representatives  from  Concord  in  1837 
and  1849. 

John  Farmer  was  for  about  a  third  of  his  life  a  resident  of 
Amherst,  coming  here  in  1805  from  Chelmsford,  where  he  was 
born  June  12,  1789.  At  first  he  served  as  clerk  in  a  store, 
which  occupation  his  feeble  health  finally  compelled  him  to  re- 
linquish. He  then  engaged  in  teaching,  in  which  profession  he 
excelled.  In  1820  he  published  an  historical  sketch  of  Amherst, 
which  was  revised  and  enlarged  in  1837.  He  also  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Spalding,  but  shortly  relinquished 
it,  and  removed  to  Concord  in  1821 ;  there  formed  a  business 
connection  Avith  Dr.  Samuel  Morrill,  in  which  he  continued  for 
a  short  time.  After  quitting  this,  he  devoted  most  of  his  time 
to  antiquarian  and  historical  researches,  in  which  matters  he 
soon  became  an  acknowledged  authority.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  New  Hampshire  Historical  Society,  of  which  he 
was  for  fourteen  years  the  corresponding  secretary.  Ever  ready 
and  willing  to  aid  in  any  good  work,  according  to  his  strength 


65 

and  ability.  He  died,  honored  and  lamented,  Angust  13,  1838. 
His  remains  lie  beside  those  of  his  friend,  Joseph  Low,  the  first 
mayor  of  Concord,  on  whose  family  monument  a  suitable  inscrip- 
tion is  placed,  in  memory  of  the  greatest  antiquarian  of  New 
Hampshire. 

Jose;  h  Low  was  one  of  what  Dr.  Bouton  styles  the  '*  Am- 
herst colony."  It  consisted  of  several  young  men  and  women, 
most  of  them  natives  of  Amherst,  who  settled  in  Concord  many 
years  ago,  being  nearly  all  of  the  same  age.  They  were  much 
together,  aiding  and  assisting  each  other.  Most  of  them  ac- 
quired a  competency,  and  nearly  all  of  them  Avere  among  the 
most  respected  citizens  of  the  place;- — they  were  Francis  N". 
Fisk,  William  Fisk  and  wife  (Margaret  Dodge),  William  Low 
and  wife  (Grace  Nichols),  Joseph  Low,  Benjamin  Damon  and 
wife  (Sophia  Nichols),  Peter  Robinson,  and  Isaac  Hill.  All  lived 
to  a  good  old  age, — Francis  N.  Fisk,  the  oldest,  being  ninety 
years  and  five  months  old  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

William  Fisk,  son  of  Dea.  William  Fisk,  was  born  at  Wenham, 
Mass.,  April  20,  1755;  came  to  Amherst  with  his  father  in 
1773;  he  served  on  the  board  of  selectmen  for  twenty-five 
consecutive  years,  eighteen  of  which  he  was  also  town  clerk ; 
six  years  he  represented  the  town  in  the  general  court;  was 
senator  from  the  seventh  district  four  years,  and  twice  an  elect- 
or of  president  and  vice-president  of  the  United  States,  besides 
holding  other  important  oflices.  He  was  for  a  long  time  one  of 
the  leaders  of  the  old  republican  party,  and  was  a  man  of  de- 
cided ability.     He  died  June  4,  1831. 

A  history  of  the  Fiske  family  was  published  by  Albert  A. 
Fiske,  Chicago,  1867. 

Samuel  Bell  resided  here  for  some  years.  His  connection  with 
the  Hillsborough  bank,  of  which  he  was  president,  injured  his 
popularity  here,  as  the  vote  for  governor  in  1819  and  subse- 
quent years  will  show;  but  the  people  of  the  state  generally 
had  full  confidence  in  him.  He  was  a  member  of  the  senate 
from  the  seventh  district  in  1807  and  1808,  in  both  of  which 
years  he  was  its  presiding  ofiicer ;  councillor  for  Hillsborough  dis- 
trict one  year;  justice  of  the  supreme  court  three  years;  gov- 
ernor four  years ;  and  senator  in  congress  twelve  years,  being 
the  second  senator  from  New  Hampshire  who  served  two  full 
5 


66 

terms  in  that  body.  Although  he  spoke  hut  seldom  in  the  senate, 
his  advice  was  sought  by  his  colleagues  on  all  matters  of  impor- 
tance, and  it  is  said  the  memorable  speech  of  Mr.  Webster,  in 
reply  to  Col  Hayne,  January  26,  1830,  was  made  at  his  sugges- 
tion and  request.  He  died  at  Chester,  December  23, 1850,  aged 
eighty  years.  "  Governor  Hill  once  indorsed  him  as  being  one 
of  the  best  of  men,  and  the  very  best  of  governors." 

Reuben  Dimond  Mussey,  son  of  Dr.  John  Mussey,  was  born  in 
1780.  For  some  years  in  early  life  he  resided  on  the  place  now  or 
formerly  occupied  by  Mr.  Freeman  Bills.  Some  reminiscences  of 
his  boyhood  may  be  found  in  the  Cabinet  of  April  1,  1874.  He 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  college  in  1803 ;  studied  medicine,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Salem,  Mass.,  about 
1809,  where  he  remained  until  1814,  when  he  accepted  a  pro- 
fessorship at  Hanover,  and  removed  there,  remaining  until  1838, 
when  he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  and  became  professor  of  sur- 
gery in  the  Ohio  Medical  college.  This  position  he  filled 
until  1852,  when  he  became  connected  with  the  Miami  Medical 
college  as  profe.ssor  of  surgery.  Leaving  this  in  1860,  he  came 
to  Boston  to  superintend  the  publication  of  one  of  his  works, 
and  remained  there  until  his  death,  which  took  place  June  21, 
1866.  He  was  an  earnest  and  laborious  student  in  his  profes- 
sion, in  which  he  gained  distinction  as  an  instructor. 

Miss  Hosea,  Isaac  Brooks,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Eli  Wilkin  s  were 
among  the  early  teachers  in  the  schools  of  Amherst.  Miss  Hosea 
seems  to  have  been  inclined  to  take  life  easily.  I  have  the  au- 
thority of  one  of  her  pupils,  who  was  afterwards  for  a  long  time 
one  of  "  ye  fathers  of  ye  towne,"  for  saying,  that  after  she  had 
heard  her  pupils  through  their  lessons,  she  would  request  them 
to  be  good  children  while  she  took  a  nap ;  but  while  the  teacher 
slept,  the  wide  awake  pupils,  the  father  aforesaid  included,  em- 
ployed themselves  in  chasing  squirrels  on  the  log  fences,  or 
stoning  the  red-headed  woodpeckers,  which  then  abounded  on 
the  chestnut  stubs  standing  in  the  fields  near  by.  A  dark  col- 
ored slate  stone,  standing  near  the  south-west  corner  of  the  new 
cemetery,  marks  the  resting-place  of  this  pioneer  teacher.  On 
it  we  read  the  inscription, — "Miss  Mercy  Hosea,  died  August  3, 
1838,  aged  95." 

Isaac  Brooks,  Esq.,  was  born  in  Woburn,  Mass.,  August  16; 


67 

1757.  He  had  the  reputation  of  being  an  excellent  teacher, 
excelling  particularly  in  penmanship,  as  an  examination  of  the 
county  records  from  1805  to  1828  will  show.  He  married  Ab- 
igail Kendrick,  a  sister  of  the  mother  of  Gen.  Pierce,  and  died 
December  21,  1840. 

Eli  Wilkins,  Esq.,  served  on  the  board  of  selectmen  eight 
years,  commencing  with  1781.  He  was  an  excellent  penman. 
While  teaching  school  he  evidently  did  his  best  to  keep  out  of 
harm's  way  himself,  and  guard  against  any  unnecessary  blood- 
shed among  his  pupils,  one  of  whom  (perhaps  his  testimony 
should  be  taken  with  some  grains  of  allowance)  used  to  say, 
that  master  Wilkins  would,  after  putting  on  his  coat  and  hat, 
open  the  door,  and,  having  secured  a  way  of  escape  for  himself, 
dismiss  his  disciples  with  the  injunction  to  let  any  killing  that 
might  be  done  be  done  accidentally.  They  were  then  left  to 
''fight  it  out"  at  their  leisure. 

I  think  that  few  complaints  were  made  of  frequent  changes 
in  text-books  used  in  the  schools  in  those  times.  The  Testament 
and  ^sop's  Fables,  the  last  adorned  with  marvellous  wood-cuts, 
furnished  the  older  pupils  with  reading  matter;  Dilworth  and 
Cocker  furnished  the  arithmetics;  while  Perry's  Spelling-book 
and  the  New  England  Primer,  containing  the  shorter  catechism 
and  the  lamentable  account  of  "  ye  burning  of  Mr.  John  Rog- 
ers," delighted  the  hearts  and  eyes  of  the  youngest  of  the  flock. 

Strange  visitors  sometimes  put  in  an  appearance  at  these  old- 
fashioned  temples  of  science.  On  one  occasion  a  house  adder,  of 
fair  proportions,  was  discovered  on  the  plate  of  the  old  school- 
house,  in  the  Campbell  district,  in  close  proximity  to  the  teach- 
er's head.  A  confusion  of  tongues  ensued,  and,  after  a  vigorous 
application  of  clubs  and  the  broomstick,  the  intruder  was  slain, 
to  the  great  edification  of  the  company. 

Samuel  Wilkins,  son  of  the  first  minister,  was  one  of  the 
three  deacons  elected  January  10,  1774.  He  served  on  the 
board  of  selectmen  fifteen  years,  and  was  toAvn-clerk  ten  years. 
He  seems  to  have  been  a  stout  muscular  man  in  his  prime, 
abounding  in  life  and  good  humor.  Like  his  father  he  became 
very  infirm  in  his  old  age,  but  was  tenderly  cared  for  by  his 
sons  Daniel  and  Thomas.  In  his  youth  he  delighted  in  feats  of 
strength  and  agility,  and  but  few  were  found  who  could  master 


68 

him  in  wrestling.  Many  anecdotes  are  told  of  him,  showing 
his  wit  and  good  humor.  On  one  occasion  a  boy,  belonging  to 
a  family  whose  reputation  for  veracity  was  not  very  good,  ap- 
peared before  him  very  much  frightened,  saying  he  had  seen  a 
bear  in  the  woods  near  by.  "  What  sort  of  a  tail  had  he  ?"  said 
the  deacon.  "A  long  bushy  one,"  said  the  boy.  "Is  your 
name  Pike?"  quoth  the  deacon.  "Yes."  " Go  right  along,  the 
bear  Avon't  hurt  you." 

When  a  little  past  middle  life  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose 
his  wife,  a  most  estimable  woman,  who  left  him  with  a  large 
family  of  little  ones.  After  a  proper  time  had  elapsed,  he 
sought  another  partner,  and,  after  making  himself  agreeable  as 
possible  to  the  chosen  one,  he  one  day  asked  if  she  thought  of 
going  to  heaven.  Somewhat  surprised,  she  answered  that  she 
hoped  to.  So  do  I,  said  our  deacon — what  say  you  to  making 
the  rest  of  the  journey  with  me?  Not  being  denied,  a  very 
pleasant  journey  of  some  forty-four  years'  duration  commenced 
shortly  after. 

John  Hubbard  Wilkins,  youngest  son  of  Dea.  Wilkins,  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  college,  1818,  was  for  a  long  time  a  publisher 
and  stationer  in  Boston,  and  at  one  time  the  "whig"  candi- 
date for  mayor  of  that  city.  He  was  one  of  the  first  in  this 
country  to  accept  the  vicAvs  of  Baron  Swedenborg,  and  was 
for  a  long  time  an  active  member  and  supporter  of  the  Church 
of  the  New  Jerusalem,  in  Boston. 

George  Wilkins  Kendall,  a  grandson  of  Dea.  Wilkins,  was 
born  in  the  old  north-west  parish,  now  Mont  Vernon.  He  spent 
a  good  portion  of  his  boyhood  at  his  grandfather's,  and  is  re- 
membered by  those  who  attended  school  in  the  old  "Taylor" 
district,  at  that  time,  as  the  wag  of  the  school,  abounding  in 
sallies  of  wit  and  good-natured  mischief  He  was  one  of  the 
originators,  and  for  some  time  editor-in-chief  of  the  New  Orleans 
Picayune.  He  travelled  in  nearly  every  state  of  the  Union, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  ill-starred  Santa  Fe  expedition  in 
1841.  After  the  close  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  he  went  to  Texas, 
and  engaged  in  sheep  raising.     He  died  there  some  years  since. 

Another  of  the  deacons  of  happy  memory,  who  would  have 
delighted  the  heart  of  Parson  Murray,  was  the  second  Dea.  Sea- 
ton,  a  native  of  the  town,  born  (so  says  the  town  book)  April 


8,  1756.  His  family  was  originally  from  Scotland.  On  the  over- 
throw of  the  Stuarts,  to  whose  fortunes  the  Seatons  adhered, 
their  estates  were  confiscated  and  the  family  dispersed.  John 
and  Andrew  Seaton  went  to  Tellahoage,  Ireland.  Some  years 
after,  John  came  to  New  England,  and  settled  in  Boxford,  Mass., 
1729.  Andrew  sailed  for  Boston  ten  years  later,  with  his  fam- 
ily, and  lost  his  wife  in  the  wreck  of  the  ship.  He  reached 
Boxford  in  1740.  John,  son  of  John,  married  Ismenia,  daughter 
of  Andrew,  and  settled  in  Amherst.  He  was  elected  deacon 
January  10,  1774,  and  held  the  office  till  he  removed  to  Wash- 
ington, N.  H.,  1787.  He  was  a  man  of  genuine  worth — the 
father  of  Ann  Seaton,  who  married  Hon.  John  Duncan,  of  An- 
trim, and  of  Dea.  John  Seaton,  the  subject  of  our  notice,  who 
was  endowed  with  the  gift  of  song.  His  ear  delighted  in  the 
sounds  of  the  viol  and  harp,  and  in  his  youth  he  was  chief 
among  the  dancers.  In  his  mature  life  he  was  for  a  long  time 
the  leader  among  the  singers  in  the  sanctuary. 

I  remember  him  as  an  old  man  who  generally  came  late  to 
meeting,  riding  with  his  aged  companion  in  an  ancient  chaise, 
which  might  have  suggested  the  legend  of  "ye  Deacon's  one- 
horse  shay  "  to  Dr.  Holmes.  After  securing  his  horse,  he  would 
make  his  way  up  the  broad  aisle  to  "  ye  deacon's  seat,"  his  prog- 
ress being  announced  by  a  pair  of  desperately  creaking  boots. 
His  nose,  of  imperial  dimensions,  which  .would  have  excited 
the  admiration  of  the  first  Xapoleon,  and  won  for  its  owner  the 
decoration  of  the  grand  legion  of  honor  at  sight,  was  the  source 
of  much  amusement  to  him.  Being  seated  at  table  one  day,  a 
stranger,  who  sat  opposite  him,  suggested  rather  angrily  that 
the  application  of  a  handkerchief  to  it  Avould  be  a  benefit.  Ever 
ready  to  oblige,  the  deacon  handed  him  the  handkerchief,  with 
the  request  that  he  would  attend  to  it,  as  he  was  nearer  the 
offending  member  than  its  owner.  A  good  understanding  be- 
tween the  parties  was  arrived  at  at  once. 

Meeting  the  mail  carrier,  Wheat,  one  day,  who,  for  some  rea- 
son, disliked  him,  the  deacon  seized  Wheat's  nose,  which  rival- 
led his  own  in  size,  with  his  left  hand,  turning  it  as  far  as  he 
could  from  him,  at  the  same  time  turning  his  head  half  round 
to  the  right,  he  said — "  I  think,  brother  Wheat,  that  we  can  pass 
one  another."     "  With  charity  for  all,  bearing  malice  towards 


70 

none,"  the  good  deacon  passed  through  life,  and  "fell  asleep" 
October  3,  1836. 

Jonathan  Hildreth,  son  of  Jacob,  born  August  12,  1767,  was 
for  a  long  time  a  noted  teacher  of  music  in  Amherst.  For  some 
years  he  was  the  chorister  at  the  meeting-house.  Being  some- 
thing of  a  mechanic,  he  constructed  several  bass  viols,  some  of 
which  were  used  to  aid  in  the  services  of  the  choir.  He  died 
July  4,  1816.  His  cousin,  Benjamin  Kendrick,  was  afterwards 
leader  of  the  choir,  and  was  noted  for  his  skill  in  music.  He 
died  December  15,  1853,  aged  74. 

In  the  army  which  took  Quebec  in  1759  was  a  youth  of  fif- 
teen winters,  named  Henry  Cod.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
obtained  some  knowledge  of  medicine,  and  ejigaged  in  practice 
in  Amherst.  Adding  another  syllable  to  his  name,  he  became 
Dr.  Codman.  He  seems  to  have  possessed  naturally  a  good 
stock  of  common  sense,  and  had  some  skill  in  his  profession, 
but  was  rough  and  eccentric  in  his  manner.  Towards  the  close 
of  his  life  he  indulged  far  too  frequently  in  the  use  of  what  the 
fathers  called  strong  waters.  Many  anecdotes  of  a  ludicrous 
character  are  related  of  him.  On  one  occasion  he  was  called  to 
visit  a  young  lady  belonging  to  one  of  the  first  ^families,  who 
had  been  severely  wounded  in  the  neck  by  being  thrown  from 
a  carriage.  She  was  well  covered  with  blood  when  the  healer 
entered  the  room,  "well  set  up."  "Well,  Sal,"  quoth  he, 
"you  look  like  a  great  stuck  pig"  (the  adjectives  in  the  origi- 
nal omitted). 

Speaking  of  the  doctors  in  Amherst,  he  said  there  were  quite 
too  many.  "  There  are  but  four,"  was  the  answer.  "There  are 
a  thousand,"  said  Esculapius.  "  How  do  you  make  that  out?" 
"  There's  me,  I  am  one;  there's  S.,  he's  a  cypher;  there's  C, 
another  cypher;  and  N.,  another  one;  and  one  and  three  cy- 
phers make  a  thousand,  don't  they?" 

One  time  when  the  dysentery  prevailed  in  town,  the  doctor  was 
very  successful  in  saving  his  patients.  Other  practitioners  were 
not  so  fortunate,  and  lost  nearly  all.  A  good  old  lady,  who 
was  much  among  the  sick,  noticed  that  whenever  he  was  called 
he  left  pills  of  an  enormous  size,  giving  directions  that  one,  two, 
or  three,  or  as  many  as  the  patient  felt  inclined  to  take,  should 
be  administered  at  a  time — the  more  the  better.   After  the  sickly 


71 

season  was  over,  the  good  lady  asked  him  what  the  pills  were 
made  of.  "  Rye  meal,"  said  the  doctor,  "the  best  thing  in  the 
world  for  the  dysentery." 

Having  taken  "  a  drop  too  much,"  before  starting  on  a  pro- 
fessional trip  one  day,  his  horse  stumbled  and  speedily  unloaded 
his  master,  with  the  attendant  saddle-bags.  The  medicines  con- 
tained in  the  saddle-bags  were  badly  mixed.  So,  stirring  them 
all  together,  he  administered  doses  of  the  compound  with  great 
success,  performing  wonderful  cures,  to  his  great  delight.  Speak- 
ing of  it  to  a  friend,  the  friend  suggested  that  he  had  better 
prepare  another  dose  similar  to  the  one  he  had  just  used  up. 
"  I  would  do  it,"  said  the  doctor,  "but  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  know 
the  right  proportions  of  the  medicines." 

Being  summoned  one  day  to  visit  an  old  lady  in  the  northerly 
part  of  the  town,  he  told  some  boys  he  met  that  he  was  going 
up  to  kill  old  Goody  S.  She  was  seventy-six  years  old,  and  had 
no  business  to  live  any  longer.  For  his  part,  he  did  not  mean  to 
live  so  long  as  that ;  would  kill  himself  first.  As  good  as  his 
word,  he  died  March  14,  1812,  aged  sixty-eight  years. 

In  the  longevity  of  its  inhabitants,  I  think  Amherst  compares 
favorably  with  other  towns  of  equal  size.  I  have  in  my  posses- 
sion a  list  of  one  hundred  and  forty-four  persons  who  have  here 
deceased  since  January  1,  1823.  Of  them,  one  hundred  and  five 
were  between  eighty  and  ninety  years ;  thirty-six  between  ninety 
and  one  hundred  years;  and  three  over  one  hundred  years  of 
age. 

The  oldest  person  of  whom  I  have  any  record,  who  has  died 
in  town,  was  Mrs.  Hepsibah  Hartshorn,  daughter  of  Eben  and 
Lydia  Holt,  from  whom  Holt's  meadow  derives  its  name.  She 
was  born  June  13, 1747,  and  died  January  11, 1851,  at  the  age  of 
one  hundred  and  three  years,  six  months,  and  twenty-eight  days. 
She  had  been  a  cripple  for  many  years,  walking  by  the  aid  of  a 
crutch;  yet  she  milked  her  cow  after  she  had  passed  her  ninety- 
fifth  year.  For  some  years  before  her  death  her  hearing  was 
much  impaired.  She  occupied  a  log  house, — the  last  of  its  kind, 
I  think,  in  town, — which  was  taken  down  after  her  death. 

Mrs.  Mary  Barnard  was  born  at  Lancaster,  Mass.,  March  29, 
1722,  and  died  here  October  13,  1823.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  Holman,  and  was  married  to  Robert  Barnard,  of  Bol- 


72 

ton,  Mass.  One  of  her  sons  was  Rev.  Jeremiah  Barnard,  the 
second  minister  of  Amherst.  Her  daughter,  Miss  Lydia  Bar- 
nard, born  at  Bolton,  Mass.,  October  6,  1757,  died  in  Amherst, 
September  17,  1859,  lacking  but  a  few  days  of  one  hundred  and 
two  years.  A  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Betsy  King,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Barnard,  died  at  Rockdale,  Iowa,  January  14, 
1872,  aged  ninety -six  years,  six  months,  and  eleven  days. 

Daniel  Campbell,  Esq.,  the  oldest  man  who  has  ever  deceased 
in  Amherst,  was  born  in  Londonderry,  now  Windham,  N.  H., 
June  27,  1739;  settled  in  Amherst  in  1760,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  October  7,  1838.  In,his  active 
life  he  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  town,  serving  as 
moderator  at  the  annual  town-meeting,  selectman  for  many 
years,  and  representative.  Possessed  of  a  strong  will,  an  iron 
constitution,  and  energy  enough  for  a  dozen  men,  his  strength 
and  faculties  held  out  remarkably  to  the  last.  In  his  old  age 
he  was  quite  a  politician.  He  attended  and  voted  at  the  town- 
meeting  the  spring  before  his  death. 

Jenny  Hylands,  to  whom  he  was  married,  June  25,  1760,  was 
a  few  months  older  than  her  husband,  and  a  native  of  London- 
derry. She  was  a  woman  of  rare  energy  and  excellence ;  one 
in  whom  '•  the  heart  of  her  husband  did  safely  trust."  She 
literally  "  made  linen,  and  sold  it.  She  looked  well  to  the  ways 
of  her  household,  and  ate  not  the  bread  of  idleness.  Her  hus- 
band praised  her.  Her  children  also  arise  up  and  call  her  bless- 
ed."    She  died  November  25,  1815,  aged  seventy-seven. 

This  family,  consisting  of  five  members,  is  remarkable  for 
longevity, — the  father  dying  at  the  age  of  ninety-nine,  the 
mother  at  seventy-seven,  their  son  at  seventy-five,  their  eldest 
daughter  at  eighty-two,  and  their  youngest  daughter  at  ninety- 
two  ;  an  average  of  eighty-five  years. 

The  oldest  person  who  ever  lived  in  town  is  Mrs.  Anah  Goss, 
who  will  complete  her  one  hundred  and  fourth  year  on  the  1st 
day  of  February,  1874. 

According  to  the  census  of  1870,  there  were  eighty-two  per- 
sons in  town  over  seventy  years  of  age.  Of  these,  fifty-nine 
were  between  seventy  and  eighty ;  twenty-two  between  eighty 
and  ninety;  and  one  over  one  hundred  years. 

The  eldest  male  native  of  Amherst,  now  living,  is  probably 


73 

Mr.  Uriah  Wilkins,*  son  of  Aaron  and  Lydia  Smith  Wilkins, 
who  completed  his  eighty-fifth  year,  November  4,  1873.  Two 
of  his  brothers  hav-e  deceased, — one  aged  eighty-four  years  and 
fom'  months,  the  other  aged  seventy  years  and  one  month ;  one 
is  still  living,  aged  eighty-three  years  and  three  months.  Two 
sisters  have  deceased, — one  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years  and 
two  months,  the  other  aged  seventy-five  years  and  four  months ; 
one  is  now  living,  aged  seventy-nine  years  and  seven  months. 
Average  age  of  the  members  of  the  family  at  the  present  time, 
eighty  and  four  sevenths  years. 

But  I  trespass  too  long  upon  your  patience.  Our  town  and 
its  people  have  a  history  of  which  no  one  need  be  ashamed. 
Generations  of  patriotic,  noble-hearted  men,  and  chaste,  loving 
women,  have  here  lived  and  passed  away.  Tlieir  memories  are 
blessed.  Let  it  be  our  endeavor  so  to  live,  that  the  record  of 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  old  Amherst,  handed  down  to  us, 
shall  be  transmitted  without  spot  or  blemish  to  our  successors. 


To  the  foregoing  description  of  former  citizens,  by  Mr.  Secomb, 
I  append  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  church,  with  such  facts  re- 
lating to  their  lives  and  characters  as  I  have  been  able  to  gather 
since  the  discourse  was  written ;  also,  a  list  of  all  the  grad- 
uates at  colleges  from  Amherst,  so  far  as  I  Jiave  been  able  to 
ascertain  the  names. 

J.  G.  DAVIS. 


DEACONS    OF    THE    FIRST   CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCH  IN  AMHERST. 


Humphrey  Hobbs,  the  first  in  this  office,  was  elected  January 
6,  1743.  He  was  a  man  of  great  personal  courage,  having  the 
true  instincts  of  a  soldier.  His  success  in  the  conflict  with  the 
Indians  in  Amherst  seems  to  have  led  him  to  enter  the  volun- 
teer service  in  defence  of  the  province.     He  was  captain  of  a 

*  Mr.  Wilkins  died  early  in  April,  1874. 


74 

company,  stationed  at  Charlestown,  No.  4,  and  in  that  capacity 
exhibited  superior  qualities  in  skirmishes  with  tlie  Indians. 

Josej^h  Boutell,  the  second  deacon,  was  elected  June  3,  1743. 
From  an  obituary  notice,  published  in  the  first  volume  of  the 
Amherst  Journal,  I  learn  that  "  he  served  in  this  office  fifty-two 
years,  during  which  his  exemplary  behaviour  rendered  him  an 
honor  and  an  ornament  to  the  holy  profession  he  had  made  and 
the  office  he  sustained,  and  secured  for  him  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  him."  He  died  May  19,  1795,  in  his 
eighty-ninth  year. 

Third — James  Cochran  was  elected  deacon  in  1744,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  made  by  the  resignation  of  Dea.  Hobbs.  I  have  not 
been  able  to  learn  his  origin.  He  held  the  office,  enjoying  the 
confidence  of  his  brethren,  till  his  death,  January  5,  1774. 

On  the  10th  January,  1774,  a  meeting  of  the  church,  "  duly 
notified,"  was  held  for  "  the  purpose  of  choosing  several  breth- 
ren into  the  sacred  office  of  deacon,"  when,  by  a  major  part  of 
the  votes  taken,  Mr.  Samuel  Wilkins,  Mr.  John  Seaton,  and 
Mr.  Nahum  Baldwin  were  chosen  into  said  office.  This  election 
was  consequent  on  the  death  of  Dea.  Cochran,  and  the  fresh 
interest  awakened  by  the  completion  of  the  new  meeting-house. 
All  these  jDcrsons  are  mentioned  elsewhere,  and  in  connec- 
tions that  prove  that  they  were  men  of  vigorous  sense  and  prac- 
tical talents,  asserting  a  decided  influence  among  their  townsmen 
in  the  agitation  and  debates  of  that  stirring  period.  Dea.  Wil- 
kins resigned  his  office  in  1816. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1788,  Dea.  Baldwin,  having  died  in 
May,  and  Dea.  Seaton  having  removed  from  town  the  preced- 
ing year,  Mr.  Ephraim  Barker  and  Mr.  Joshua  Lovejoy  "were 
chosen  into  the  office"  of  deacons. 

Dea.  Barker  was  widely  known  as  a  man  of  business,  and  a 
superior  mechanic.  He  was  twice  married, — had  a  large  and 
interesting  family,  and  was  highly  respected  by  the  community. 
He  was  distinct  and  tenacious  in  the  expression  of  his  theo- 
logical opinions.  Being  an  excellent  singer,  he  acted  as  chorister 
in  the  church  for  many  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Rockingham 
county;  born  in  or  near  Exeter,  1732,  and  died  September  29, 
1800. 

Joshua  Lovejoy  and  his  wife  brought  letters  from  the  Second 


75 

church  in  Andover,  Mass.,  on  which  they  were  admitted  to  this 
church  April  22,  1781.  He  was  a  man  of  fair  talents,  without 
much  education.  Served  as  selectman  and.  town  clerk  in  the 
years  1790-1794.  He  removed  from  town  soon  after,  and  died 
at  Sanbornton,  January  28,  1832,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight. 

"  On  the  3d  September,  1795,  Dea.  Boutell  having  deceased, 
and  Dea.  Lovejoy  having  left  town,"  Mr.  Amos  Elliott,  born  June 
17,  1755,  son  of  Francis,  and  John  Seatou,  son  of  John,  born 
April  8,  1756,  were  chosen  deacons.  Dea.  Seaton  is  described 
on  page  68,  and,  notwithstanding  his  peculiarities,  was  a  valuable 
citizen.  Dea.  Elliott  was  a  farmer,  of  retiring  manners,  but 
highly  esteemed  as  a  consistent  Christian.  After  his  death, 
April  7,  1807,  John  Hartshorn,  born  June  21,  1759,  second  son 
of  James,  who  came  to  Amherst  late  in  the  autumn  of  1764, 
from  Reading,  Mass.,  was  elected  deacon  September  1,  1808. 
Like  Dea.  Elliott,  whom  he  succeeded,  he  was  by  occupation  a 
farmer,  and  a  man  of  few  words.  In  personal  appearance  he 
was  a  man  of  dignity,  as  became  the  office,  in  which  he  pur- 
chased a  good  degree,  being  a  man  of  sound  judgment  and 
real  Christian  worth.  He  continued  in  office  till  his  death, 
November  28,  1842. 

In  the  spring  of  1816,  Richard  Boylston,  David  Holmes,  Ed- 
mund Parker,  with  their  wives,  united  with  the  church,  and 
several  ineffectual  efforts  were  made  to  persuade  these  gentle- 
men and  others  to  accept  the  office  of  deacon.  In  one  case,  if 
not  more,  the  candidate  was  elected  in  anticipation  of  his  be- 
coming a  member  of  the  church.  After  the  installation  of  Dr. 
Lord  as  pastor,  the  objections  previously  entertained  were  re- 
moved, and  Matthias  Spalding  and  David  Holmes  consented  to 
serve. 

Dr.  Spalding,  born  at  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  June  25, 1769,  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  college,  1798,  commenced  practice  in  Am- 
herst, 1806,  where  he  gained  a  wide  reputation  as  a  skilful 
physician  and  surgeon  ;  was  elected  deacon  May  29,  1817,  and 
continued  in  office  till  his  death.  May  22,  1865.  Through  life 
he  was  distinguished  for  his  fine  social  qualities,  gentlemanly 
deportment,  and  steadfast  support  of  religious  institutions.  In 
times  of  difficulty  he  was  a  good  counsellor,  and  by  his  consid- 
erate management  was  often  of  great  service  to  the  church  in 


76 

mainfa'ning  discipline.  For  a  more  complete  statement  of  his 
character,  as  a  citizen,  an  esteemed  and  honored  member  of  the 
medical  profession,  and  other  particulars  of  his  long  and  useful 
life,  see  Spalding  Memorial,  pp.  79-83. 

David  Holmes,  who  was  elected  deacon  at  the  same  time^ 
after  a  few  years,  in  1823,  resigned  his  office,  as  his  views  of 
religious  doctrine  were  not  in  harmony  with  the  jDrevailing  sen- 
timent in  the  church.  He  became  an  active  member  of  the 
Christian  society,  and,  on  his  removal  from  town,  settled  at 
Lowell,  Mass. 

Amos  Elliott,  son  of  Amos,  and  the  second  deacon  of  that 
name,  was  elected  November  1,  1823.  He  is  represented  as  a 
man  of  slight  figure,  a  skilful  musician,  fond  of  books,  and  often 
employed  in  teaching  school.  He  held  the  office  three  years, 
dying  in  1826,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two.  The  name  and  services 
of  the  Elliotts,  father  and  son,  are  pleasantly  associated  with 
those  of  Dea.  Hartshorn,  in  the  cherished  remembrances  of  the 
neighborhood  in  which  they  lived,  generally  designated  as 
"  Christian  Hill." 

Edmund  Parker  was  born  at  Jaffrey,  February  7,  1783 ;  grad- 
uated at  Dartmouth  college,  1803.  Came  to  Amherst,  where 
he  studied  law.  Opened  a  law  office  in  1807,  and  soon  gained 
distinction  in  his  profession.  He  was  a  thorough  student  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  his  life  was  penetrated  and  directed  by  its  pre- 
cepts. Elected  deacon  May  15,  1832.  He  retained  the  office 
until  his  removal  to  E'ashua  in  1836.  He  is  described  by  Dr. 
Edward  Spalding  "  as  a  representative  man,  to  whose  wisdom 
and  prudence  others  willingly  deferred.  In  social  and  public 
meetings  he  was  conspicuously  active  and  influential, — especially 
in  seasons  of  unusual  religious  interest,  when  his  sound  judg- 
ment and  devout  piety  made  him  a  true  colleague  to  his  pastor, 
and  a  paternal  helper  to  those  seeking  the  way  of  life.  Under 
a  natural  sedateness  and  gravity  of  manner,  which  to  a  stran- 
ger indicated  something  of  sternness,  there  glowed  a  warm  and 
generous  heart,  full  of  kindly  impulses,  and  ever  ready  for  some 
good  word  or  work.  He  loved  the  society  of  the  young,  and 
in  his  advanced  years  retained  the  playfulness  of  a  boy.  Few 
men  take  as  much  pains  as  he  did  to  encourage  and  lend  a  help- 
ing hand  to  those  beginning  the  struggle   of  life.     Take  him 


77 

lor  all  in  all,  he  filled  with  rare  completeness  the  measure  of  a 
Christian  gentleman's  life."  He  was  a  trustee  of  Dartmouth 
college  from  1828  to  185G.  On  his  removal  to  Nashua  he  was 
chosen  deacon  in  the  Olive  Street  church,  and  continued  in  office 
till  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Claremont,  wdiile 
on  a  visit  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Prentiss,  September  8,  1856. 

Abel  Downe,  born  November  2,  1788.  Came  to  Amherst 
from  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  about  the  year  1832.  Chosen  deacon 
January  21,  1836,  and  continued  in  office  till  his  death,  Septem- 
ber 28,  1840.  He  is  described  as  a  man  of  quiet  manners  and 
genial  spirit,  a  trustworthy  citizen  and  devoted  Christian.  He 
was  much  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 

David  Fisk,  3d,  born  at  Merrimack,  September  12,  1792,  was 
elected  deacon  Nov.  18, 1836.  A  man  of  commanding  presence, 
vigorous  mind,  and  decided  opinions.  He  was  prompt  and  true 
in  meeting  the  calls  of  duty.  He  w^as  firm  in  the  expression  of 
his  religious  sentiments,  but,  practically,  benevolent  and  kind. 
Having  served  in  this  office  with  an  upright  and  zealous  Chris- 
tian character  for  twenty-three  years,  he  removed  to  Nashua 
in  1860,  where  he  died,  after  an  honored  old  age,  June  22,  1873. 
For  details  of  his  life,  see  history  of  the  Fiske  famil}^,  p.  156. 

Cyrus  Eastman,  born  May  7,  1787,  at  Concord,  of  a  race  dis- 
tinguished for  the  substantial  qualities  of  energy,  prudence,  arid 
piety,  w\as  chosen  deacon  December  30,  1836.  Naturally  im- 
pulsive, and  almost  indifferent  to  his  own  pecuniary  advantage, 
he  was  humble  and  hearty  in  his  devotion  to  the  welfare  of  the 
church.  Averse  to  strife,  he  shared  his  full  proportion  of  all 
the  burdens  of  society,  fulfilling  the  duties  of  his  office  with 
reverence  and  fidelity  until  the  end  of  his  life,  December  17, 
1862.     See   Farmer's  Cabinet,  December  25,  1862. 

Aaron  Lawrence,  born  in  Hollis,  December  3, 1803,  w\as  train- 
ed in  a  store  for  mercantile  pursuits.  Tall,  but  slight  in  figure, 
he  was  never  robust  in  health.  Naturally  timid  and  distrustful, 
he  persisted,  in  obedience  to  the  calls  of  duty,  till  he  acquired 
character  and  influence.  He  united  with  the  church  early  in 
life,  and  for  many  years  was  the  only  young  man  in  it.  He  was 
a  cordial  supporter  of  the  ministry,  thoughtful  and  friendly  to 
the  young  and  the  homeless,  generous  to  the  needy,  and  a 
liberal    patron    of  all   Christian   enterprises.     Elected    deacon 


November  2,  1860.  He  held  the  office  till  his  death,  September 
1,  1867,  when  a  sermon  was  preached  delineating  his  character. 
His  attachment  to  the  church  and  the  tow^n  was  manifested  by 
valuable  legacies. 

In  reviewing  the  names  of  these  officers,  it  is  manifest  that 
this  church  has  been  highly  favored  in  the  consistent  and  trust- 
worthy character  of  its  deacons.  The  larger  portion  of  this 
number  were  men  of  intelligence  and  superior  understanding, — 
illustrating  in  their  lives  the  principles  of  the  Kew  Testament. 
Three  fourths  of  the  catalogue  attained  to  an  unusual  age,  con- 
firming the  declaration  of  the  Psalmist, — "  Those  that  be  plant- 
ed in  the  house  of  the  Lord  shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our 
God.  They  shall  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age.  They  shall  be 
fat  and  flourishing,  to  show  that  the  Lord  is  upright." 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are, — Barnabas  B.  David, 
elected  January  2,  1845;  Edward  D.  Boylston,  elected  April  12, 
1860;  Charles  H.  David,  elected  November  2,  1871. 


GRADUATES  AT  COLLEGE  FROM  AMHERST. 


AT    HARVAED    COLLEGE. 


NAME. 

DATE. 

PEOFESSIOK. 

*John  Wilkins, 

1774, 

Instructor. 

*Jacob  Kimball, 

1788, 

Farmer. 

"^Charles  H.  Atherton, 

1794, 

Lawyer. 

=^Daniel  Weston, 

1795, 

Clergyman. 

*William  Gordon, 

1806, 

Lawyer. 

^James  F.  Dana, 

1813, 

Physician. 

*Samuel  L.  Dana, 

1813, 

Physician. 

*John  H.  Wilkins, 

1818, 

Bookseller. 

^Charles  G.  Atherton, 

1822, 

Law^yer. 

^Stephen  R.  Holmes, 

1822, 

Instructor. 

*  Deceased. 


79 


AT   DARTMOUTH    COLLEGE. 


NAME. 

DATE. 

PROFESSION. 

*Reuben  D.  Mussey, 

1803, 

Physician. 

^Benjamin  F.  French, 

1812, 

Lawyer. 

*  James  McK.  Wilkin  s^ 

1812, 

Lawyer. 

"^Levi  Hartshorn, 

1813, 

Clergyman. 

Allen  Fisk, 

1814, 

Instructor. 

^Samuel  Whiting, 

1818, 

Lawyer. 

Charles  F.  Elliott, 

1829, 

Physician. 

Edward  Spalding, 

1833, 

Physician. 

Charles  E.  Parker, 

1834, 

Physician. 

William  Read, 

1839, 

Physician. 

^Edward  H.  Pratt, 

1841, 

Physician. 

Alfred  Spalding, 

1843, 

Physician. 

Edward  Aiken, 

1851, 

Physician. 

John  H.  Clark, 

1857, 

Physician. 

^Charles  H.  Wallace, 

1857, 

Studied  Law. 

Vaola  J.  Hartshorn, 

1860, 

Clergyman. 

Warren  Upham, 

1871, 

Civil  Engineer. 

AT    BOWDOIN    COLLEGE 

NAME. 

DATE. 

PROFESSION. 

^Robert  Means, 

1807, 

Lawyer. 

^William  Appleton, 

Lawyer. 

=*^James  Means, 

1833, 

Clergyman. 

AT   AMHERST    COLLEGE 

i. 

NAME. 

DATE. 

PROFESSION. 

William  0.  Baldwin, 

1851, 

Clergyman. 

John  E.  Wheeler, 

1857, 

Clergyman. 

Wm.  B.  Clark, 

1865, 

Banker. 

AT    WILLIAMS    COLLEGE. 

NAME. 

DATE. 

PROFESSION. 

Edward  C.  David, 

1850, 

Lawyer. 

William  G.  David, 

1852, 

Physician. 

*  Deceased, 

80 

The  following  documents,  from  authentic  sources,  may  pos- 
sess some  interest  to  those  who  are  curious  in  such  matters. 

S. 

On  the  16th  of  March,  1621,  the  inhabitants  of  Plymouth,  Mass., 
were  alarmed  at  seeing  a  sturdy  Indian  walk  into  their  settle- 
ment, and,  passing  by  the  houses,  go  directly  where  the  people 
were  collected.  He  saluted  them  in  broken  English,  and  bade 
them  welcome.  He  was  affable ;  told  them  his  dwelling  was  five 
days'  travel  from  thence,  and  that  he  was  a  sagamore  or  prince. 
He  understood  the  geography  of  the  country;  gave  an  account 
of  the  different  tribes,  their  sagamores,  and  number  of  men. 
They  kindly  entertained  him,  and  gave  him  a  horseman's  coat. 
He  tarried  all  night,  and  received,  on  going  away,  a  knife,  a 
bracelet,  and  a  ring,  and  promised  in  a  few  days  to  return  again. 
He  returned,  according  to  promise,  and  brought  five  others  with 
him.  They  sung  and  danced,  and  were  very  friendly  and 
familiar. 

The  22d  of  March  Samoset  came  again,  and  brought  Sqiiande 
with  him,  who  had  been  carried  to  Spain  and  sold  there ;  but, 
escaping,  had  made  his  way  to  London,  and  from  thence  to 
America.  Three  others  accompanied  them,  and  gave  informa- 
tion that  Massasoit, — one  of  the  most  powerful  sagamores  of  the 
neighboring  Indians, — was  near.  He  soon  appeared  on  the  top 
of  a  hill  near  by,  accompanied  by  sixty  men.  Edward  Winslow 
was  sent  to  treat  with  him,  carrying  presents  of  jewelry,  food, 
and  strong  water.  After  receiving  the  presents,  they  were 
desired  to  visit  the  governor,  who  received  them  with  drum  and 
trumpet  sounding,  and  other  military  parade.  A  green  rug  and 
three  or  four  cushions  were  spread  for  the  company.  The  gov- 
ernor kissed  the  king's  hand,  and  the  king  his,  and  both  sat 
down.  "Strong  water"  was  then  given  the  king,  who  drank  a 
great  draught  that  made  him  sweat  all  the  while  after.  Vic- 
tuals were  then  set  before  them.  Massasoit  at  this  meetinof 
entered  into  a  formal  and  very  friendly  treaty  with  the  English, 
wherein  they  agreed  to  avoid  injuries  on  both  sides,  to  punish 
offenders,  to  restore  stolen  goods,  to  assist  each  other  in  all  jus- 
tifiable wars,  to  promote  peace  among  their  neighbors,  &c. 

Massasoit  and  his  successors,  for  forty  years,  inviolably  ob- 


81 

served  this  treaty,  and  the  English  were  much  indebted  to  him 
for  his  friendship. 

In  1662,  Alexander,  the  son  and  successor  of  Massasoit,  jeal- 
ous of  the  growing  power  of  the  English,  invited  the  Narragan- 
setts, — a  powerful  tribe, — to  join  with  him  in  revolting  from  the 
English.  Learning  this,  Gen.  Winslow  went  with  ten  men  and 
brought  him  to  Plymouth,  where,  though  he  was  treated  very 
civilly,  his  vexation  and  madness  threw  him  into  a  fever,  of 
which  he  died.  Plis  brother  Philip  succeeded  him,  and  renewed 
the  covenant  with  the  English  ;  yet,  in  1671,  he  commenced  hos- 
tilities against  them,  but  was  soon  subdued,  and  promised  never 
to  begin  war  again  before  he  had  made  complaint  himself  to 
Plymouth  colony. 

In  1874  one  John  Sassamon,  an  Indian  whom  the  settlers 
employed  as  a  missionary  to  instruct  his  brethren,  informed  the 
governor  that  Philip  and  several  other  sachems  were  plotting 
the  destruction  of  the  English.  Soon  after  this  Sassamon  was 
found  murdered.  Three  Indians  were  arrested,  tried,  convicted, 
and  hung  for  the  murder.  Philip,  much  offended  at  this,  sent 
away  his  women,  armed  his  men,  and  robbed  several  houses  of 
the  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  his  own  dwelling. 

June  24,  1675,  the  colony  observed  as  a  day  of  humiliation 
and  prayer.  As  the  people  of  Swanzey  were  returning  from 
public  worship,  the  Indians,  lying  in  ambush,  fired  a  volley, 
killing  one  man  and  wounding  another.  Two  persons  who  went 
for  a  surgeon  were  shot,  and  in  another  part  of  the  town  six 
persons  more  were  killed. 

The  war  thus  commenced  raged  fiercely  through  the  summer 
and  autumn  of  that  year.  Finally  the  Indians  were  defeated  in 
a  fight  at  Hatfield,  and  sought  shelter  on  a  small  piece  of  dry 
land,  surrounded  by  a  great  swamp.  There  they  fortified  them- 
selves as  well  as  they  were  able,  and  awaited  the  onset  of  the 
English,  which  was  made  December  19,  1675,  and  resulted  in 
the  total  defeat  and  overthrow  of  the  Indians, — probably  1,000 
of  their  number  being  slain,  or  dying  of  wounds  received  in  the 
battle.  The  victory  was,  however,  dearly  bought  by  the  con- 
querors, a  large  number  of  whom  were  slain.  Philip  escaped, 
and  with  his  remaining  warriors  did  much  mischief  Finally, 
being  closely  pursued  by  the  English,  he  took  refuge  in  a  swamp, 
6 


82 

where  he  was  shot  througli  the  heart  by  an  Indian,  August  12, 
1676.  His  head  was  sent  to  Plymonth,  where  it  was  received  on 
the  day  they  had  devoted  to  solemn  thanksgiving. 

Never,  says  the  historian,  has  New  England  seen  so  dismal  a 
period  as  the  war  with  Philip.  About  600  men, — the  flower  of 
her  strength, — had  fallen  in  battle.  There  were  few  families 
who  had  not  lost  some  near  relation.  Twelve  or  thirteen  towns 
had  been  utterly  destroyed,  and  others  gTeatly  damaged. 
About  600  buildings,  chiefly  dwelling-houses,  had  been  burned, 
and  a  large  debt  contracted.  About  every  eleventh  family  had 
been  burned  out,  and  an  eleventh  part  of  the  militia  slain.  So 
costly  is  the  inheritance  Ave  have  received  from  our  fathers. 

With  the  avowed  intention  of  rewarding  the  soldiers  who 
served  in  this  war,  coupled  probably  with  the  desire  to  strength- 
en their  claim  to  the  government  and  soil  of  New  Hampshire^ 
the  general  court  of  Massachusetts,  at  its  session  in  June,  1728, 
made  the  following  grant : 

At  a  Great  and  General  Court  or  Assembly  for  His  Majesty's 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  New  England,  Begun  and 
holden  at  Boston,  the  29th  day  of  May,  1728. 

June  15,  1728,  In  the  House  of  Representatives. 

In  answer  to  the  Petition  of  the  Soldiers  that  served  in  the 
Narraganset  War.  Resolved,  That  Major  Chandler,  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Shove,  Major  Tilestone,  and  Mr.  John  Hobson  (or  any 
three  of  them)  be  a  Committee,  fully  authorized  and  empow- 
ered to  survey  and  lay  out  two  tracts  of  land  for  townships,  of 
the  contents  of  six  miles  square  each,  in  some  of  the  unappro- 
priated Land  of  this  Province ;  and  that  the  said  lands  be 
granted  and  disposed  of  to  the  persons,  whether  Officers  or  Sol- 
diers, belonging  to  this  Province,  who  were  in  the  service  of 
their  country  in  the  said  Narraganset  War,  or  to  their  lawful 
Representatives,  as  a  reward  for  their  public  services ;  and  is  in 
full  satisfaction  of  the  Grant  formerly  made  them  by  the  Great 
and  General  Court.  And  forasmuch  as  it  is  the  full  Intent  and 
Purpose  of  this  Court,  that  every  Officer  and  Soldier  should 
have  a  compensation  made  him  over  and  above  what  wages  and 
gratuities  any  of  them  have  already  received. 

That  Public  Notice  be  given  in  the  News  Letters,  and  adver- 


88 

tisements  be  posted  up  in  every  Town  in  the  Province,  notify- 
ing all  Persons  that  now  survive  and  that  were  in  that  fight, 
and  the  legal  Representatives  of  those  deceased,  that  they  give 
or  send  a  list  of  their  names  and  descents  to  this  Court  at  their 
next  fall  session ;  and  when  such  list  is  completed,  by  a  Com- 
mittee then  to  be  appointed  by  this  Court,  the  Grantees  shall 
be  obliged  to  assemble  in  as  short  a  time  as  they  can  conven- 
iently, not  exceeding  six  months,  and  proceed  to  the  choice  of 
a  Committee  to  regulate  each  Propriety,  who  shall  pass  such 
orders  and  rules  as  will  oblige  them  efiectually  to  settle  sixty 
families  at  least  in  each  Township,  with  a  learned  Orthodox 
minister,  within  the  space  of  seven  years  from  the  date  of  the 
Grant.  PROVIDED,  nevertheless.  That  if  said  Grantees  shall 
not  effectually  settle  the  said  number  of  families  in  each  Town- 
ship, and  also  lay  out  a  lot  of  land  for  the  first  settled  minis- 
ter,— One  for  the  Ministry,  and  one  for  the  school  in  each  of 
said  Townships, — they  shall  have  no  advantage,  but  forfeit  their 
said  Grants,  any  thing  to  the  contrary  herein  contained  not- 
withstanding. 

Exd.  pr.  Thads.  Mason,  Dep.  Sec'y. 

In  Council  read  and  concurred.     Consented  to. 

William  Dummek. 

A  true  copy.     Attest :  Samuel  Kneeland,  Clerk. 

June  8,  1732. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Voted:  to  allow  a  further 
grant  of  land  to  the  Ofiicers  and  Soldiers  who  were  in  the  Nar- 
raganset  fight,  so  that  every  120  persons  whose  claims  had 
been  or  should  be  allowed  within  four  months  from  that  date, 
should  have  a  Township  of  the  contents  of  six  miles  square;  and 
that  the  same  Committee,  who  laid  out  the  two  first  Townships, 
should  lay  out  the  remainder  at  the  expense  of  the  Province. 

Concurred  in  by  the  Council,  June  9,  1732. 

J.  Willard,  Secy. 

Apr.  20,  1733.    Approved,  J.  BELCHER/  Gov. 

The  whole  number  of  persons  whose  claims  were  allowed, 
being  eight  hundred  and  forty,  an  act  was  passed  June  30, 1732, 
granting  them  5  additional  townships.    This  act  was  concurred 


84 

in  by  the  Council,  July  4,  1732,  and  approved  by  Gov.  Belcher, 
April  26,  1733. 

All  the  grantees,  or  their  representatives,  assembled  on  Bos- 
ton Common,  June  6,  1733,  at  which  time  they  divided  them- 
selves into  seven  distinct  societies,  of  120  persons,  each  society 
being  entitled  to  one  township.  Three  persons  were  chosen 
from  each  society,  who,  on  the  17th  of  October,  1733,  assign- 
ed the  several  townships  among  their  respective  societies.  No. 
3,  afterwards  called  Souhegan  West  No.  3,  was  assigned  to  the 
Salem  Society,  which  consisted  of  the  following  persons : 


SALEM. 


John  Harradway's  heirs, 
John  Elwell, 
John  Rabson, 
Thomas  Putnam, 
Nathaniel  Soams, 
Robert  Hutchinson, 
Ezekiel  Marsh, 
William  Fuller, 
Jonathan  Marsh, 
Jonathan  Verry, 
Joseph  Holton, 
John  Flynt, 

Samuel  Pickworth's  heirs, 
William  Curtis, 
John  Trask, 


Thomas  Bell, 
Jonathan  Lambert, 
William  Osburn, 
John  Bullock, 
Jeremiah  Neal, 
John  Gloyd, 
Habbakuk  Gardner, 
John  Abbott, 
Thomas  Keney's  heirs, 
Edward  Hollis'  heirs, 
Joseph  Prince, 
John  Tarbell's  heirs, 
Thomas  Larkin, 
Samuel  Manning's  heirs. 


MARBLE  HE  AD. 


William  Hind, 
Richard  Shapley, 
Jonathan  Wolcott, 
Joseph  Majory, 

Henry  Collins, 
John  Newhall, 
Thomas  Baker, 
William  Bassett, 


Thomas  Martin, 
Joseph  Sweat, 
Jeremiah  Getchel. 


LYNN. 


Samuel  Greaves, 
Samuel  Edmonds, 
John  Farrington, 
Michael  Bowden, 


85 


Richard  Johnson, 
William  Collins, 
Ebenezer  Burrill, 
Benjamin  Fotter, 
Joseph  FaiT, 
Benjamin  Ramsdell, 

Ruth  Driver, 

Samuel  Kewhall, 

John  Ballard, 

Richard  Moor, 


Jacob  Row, 
Samuel  IngersoU, 
Edw.  Harrington, 


Ebenezer  Tyler, 
James  Fry, 
William  Ballard, 
John  Presson, 


Joseph  Farr, 
Robert  Rand, 
Edmond  Lewis, 
Samuel  Tarbox's  heirs, 
Jonathan  Johnson, 
Ebenezer  Burrill, 
Timothy  Breed, 
Andrew  Townsend's  heirs, 
Joseph  Haven. 


GLOUCESTER. 


John  Day, 
Samuel  Stevens. 


ANDOVEE. 

John  Ballard, 
Ebenezer  Barker, 
Andrew  Peters, 
John  Parker. 


Zaccheus  Perkins, 
Nathaniel  Wood, 
Moses  Pingreese, 
Abraham  Fitts'  heirs, 
Thomas  Davis'  heirs, 
Elihu  Ward  well's  heirs, 
John  Hutchins'  heirs, 


TOPSFIELD. 

Josiah  Clark's  heirs, 
James  Ford's  heirs, 
Samuel  Perkins'  heirs, 
Joseph  Herrick, 
Jonathan  Wilds'  heirs, 
Samuel  Kneeland, 
Samuel  Kneeland. 


BEVERLY. 


Thomas  Rayment, 
Ralph  Elinwood, 
Henry  Bayley, 
Christopher  Reed, 
Lot  Conant, 
Thomas  Blackfield, 
Andrew  Dodge, 


Joseph  Morgan, 
William  Dodge's  heirs, 
John  Dodge's  heirs, 
Jonathan  Byells, 
William  Payment's  heirs, 
Joseph  Pickett, 
Samuel  Harris'  heirs. 


86 


WENHAM. 


Thomas  Abbott, 
Elizabeth  Fowler, 
John  Batchelcler, 


Stephen  Peabody, 

James  Curtis, 


William  Rogers, 
Thomas  Perkins. 


BOXFOED. 


John  Bowtell, 


Joseph  Hatch, 


John  Andrews, 
John  Bixbe. 


BEADFORD. 

Ichabod  Boynton. 

SCAEBOEOUGH. 

John  Plarmon. 

EEADING. 

Thomas  Bancroft. 

TOEK. 

Denison  Sargent. 

FALMOUTH. 

Philip  Dexter. 

CHATHAM. 

Robert  Nicholson. 


The  first  meeting  of  the  grantees  of  Narraganset  No.  3,  or 
Souhegan  West,  was  held  at  Salem  village,  now  Danvers,  July 
17,  1734 ;  and  their  first  meeting  within  the  limits  of  the  town- 
ship was  held  at  the  meeting-house,  January  30,  1745. 

The  first  settlement  of  the  town  was  probably  made  in  the 
spring  of  1735,  by  Samuel  Walton  and  Samuel  Lampson,  on 
the  place  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Bryant  Melendy.  Walton  died 
in  Amherst.  None  of  his  descendants  remain  here.  Lampson 
died  in  Billerica,  but  his  children  remained  in  Amherst,  where 
some  of  their  descendants  still  reside. 


87 


CHARTER  OF  AMHERST— 1760. 


PROVINCE    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

George  the   Second,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain, 
France,  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  Faith  : 

To  all  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come.  Greeting. 

Whereas  our  Loyal  subjects,  Inhabitants  of  a  Tract  of  Land 
within  our  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  known  by  the  name  of 
Souhegan  West,  on  the  western  side  of  Merrimac,  have  humbly 
petitioned  and  requested  us  that  they  may  be  erected  and  In- 
corporated into  a  Township,  and  Infranchised  with  the  same 
powers  and  priveleges  which  other  Towns  wdthin  our  said  Prov- 
ince by  law  have  and  enjoy.  And  it  appearing  to  us  to  be  con- 
ducive to  the  general  good  of  our  said  Province,  as  well  as  of 
the  said  Inhabitants  in  particular,  by  maintaining  good  order 
and  encouraging  the  culture  of  the  land,  that  the  same  should 
be  done.  Know  Ye,  therefore,  that  We,  of  our  special  Grace, 
certain  knowledge,  and  for  the  encouragement  and  promoting 
of  the  good  ends  aforesaid,  By  and  with  the  advice  of  our  trusty 
and  well  beloved  Benning  Wentworth,  Esq.,  our  Governor  and 
Commander-in-chief,  and  of  our  Council  for  said  province  of 
New  Hampshire,  Have  erected  and  ordained,  and  by  these  Pres- 
ents for  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  Do  Will  and  ordain  that 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  Tract  of  land  aforesaid,  and  who  shall 
inhabit  and  improve  thereon  hereafter,  the  same  being  Butted 
and  Bounded  as  follows:  Viz.,  Beginning  at  Souhegan  River; 
thence  running  North,  1  degree  West,  on  the  townships  of  Mer- 
rimac and  Bedford,  six  miles ;  thence  running  west  on  Bedford 
and  a  tract  of  land  called  New  Boston,  six  miles ;  thence  South 
about  five  miles  and  a  half  to  Souhegan  River  aforesaid ;  thence 
by  said  River  to  the  place  where  it  began ;  Be,  and  hereby  are, 
declared  and  ordained  to  be  a  Town  Corporate,  and  are  hereby 
erected  and  Incorporated  into  a  body  Politic  and  Corporate,  to 
to  have  continuance  until  the  first  of  January,  J  762,  by  the 
name  of  Amherst,  with  all  the  Powers  and  Authorities,  Privi- 
leges, Immunities,  and  Franchises  which  any  other  Towns  in 


88 

said  Province,  by  Law,  hold  and  enjoy  to  the  said  inhabitants, 
or  who  shall  hereafter  inhabit  there,  and  their  successors,  for 
said  terra,  always  reserving  to  us,  our  Heirs  and  Successors,  all 
White  Pine  trees  that  are,  or  shall  be  found  growing,  and  being 
on  said  tract  of  land  fit  for  the  use  of  our  Royal  Navy ;  Reserv- 
ing also  to  us,  our  Heirs  and  successors,  the  power  and  the  right 
of  dividing  said  town,  when  it  shall  appear  necessary  and  con- 
venient to  the  Inhabitants  thereof.  Provided,  nevertheless,  and 
it  is  hereby  declared,  that  this  Charter  and  Grant  is  not  intend- 
ed, and  shall  not  in  any  manner  be  construed  to  extend  to,  or 
affect  the  Private  Property  of  the  soil  within  the  limits  afore- 
said. And  as  the  several  towns  within  our  said  Province  afore- 
said are  by  the  laws  thereof  enabled  and  authorized  to  assemble, 
and  by  the  majority  of  voters  present  to  choose  all  such  officers, 
and  transact  such  affiurs  as  in  the  said  laws  are  declared.  We  do, 
by  these  presents,  nominate  and  appoint  Lieut.  Col.  John  Goffe 
to  call  the  first  meeting  of  said  Inhabitants,  to  be  held  within 
said  town,  at  any  time  within  forty  days  from  the  date  hereof, 
ffivinoj  leojal  notice  of  the  Time  and  desi^'n  of  holdino-  such 
meeting.  After  which  the  annual  meeting  in  said  Town  shall 
be  held,  for  the  choice  of  Officers  and  the  purposes  aforesaid,  on 
the  second  Monday  in  March  annually. 

In  testimony  whereof  we  have  caused  the  Seal  of  our  Prov- 
ince to  be  hereunto  affixed. 

Witness — Benning  Wentworth,  Esquire,  our  Governor  and 
Commander-in-Chief  of  our  said  Province,  the  eighteenth  day 
of  January,  in  the  Thirty-Third  year  of  our  Reign,  and  in  the 
Year  of  our  Lord  Christ,  One  thousand  and  seven  hundred  and 
sixty. 

BENNING  WENTWORTH. 

By  his  Excellency's  command,  with  advice  of  Council. 
Theodoke  Atkinson,  Secy. 

Province  of  New  Hampshire, 
Recorded  in  the  Book  of  Charters,  page  212  and   213,  this 
19th  day  of  January,  1760.         pr. 

THEODORE  ATKINSON,  Secy. 


89 


WARRANT  FOR  THE  FIRST  TOWN-MEETING. 

PROM   THE    TOWN   RECORDS. 

Province  of  New  Hampshire,  January  21,  1760. 
Notice  is  hereby  given  to  all  Persons  Inhabiting  that  tract  of 
Land  formerly  known  by  the  name  of  Souhegan  West,  or  Nar- 
raganset  No.  3,  that  Whereas  it  has  pleased  his  Excellency  Gov. 
Wentworth,  with  the  advice  of  the  Council  of  this  Province, 
to  Incorporate  the  tract  of  land  with  the  Inhabitants  into  a 
Township  by  the  name  of  Amherst,  and  as  it  has  pleased  the 
said  Governor  and  Council  to  nominate  and  appoint  me,  the 
subscriber,  to  call  the  first  meeting  for  the  choice  of  Town  Offi- 
cers. 

These  are,  therefore?  to  Warn  all  the  freeholders  and  other 
Inhabitants  of  said  tract  of  Land  now  in  the  Town  of  Am- 
herst, that  they  meet  at  the  Meeting  House  in  said  town  upon 
Wednesday,  the  Twentieth  day  of  February  next,  at  ten  of  the 
clock  in  the  forenoon  :  To  first,  hear  the  Charter  read ;  second. 
To  choose  all  Town  Officers  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  till  the 
second  Tuesday  of  March  in  the  Year  1761,  as  other  Towns 
within  this  Province  do. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  day  and  year  above  written. 

JOHN  GOFFE. 


RECORD   OF  THE  FIRST  TOWN-MEETING. 

Province  of  New  Hampshire,  February  the  20th,  1760. 

By  virtue  of  a  Charter,  Granted  by  the  Governor  and  Coun- 
cil of  said  Province,  incorporating  the  tract  of  land,  with  the 
inhabitants  of  it,  formerly  known  by  the  name  of  Souhegan 
West,  into  a  town  by  the  name  of  Amherst,  and  appointing 
Lieut.  Col.  John  GofFe  to  call'the  first  meeting  for  the  choosing 
Town  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year,  by  virtue  of  said  charter  I 
have  called  a  meeting  this  twentieth  day  of  February,  1760. 

Upon  said  day  the  Inhabitants  universally  met,  then  without 
one  contrary  vote  made  choice  of  Solomon  Hutchinson  for 
Town  Clerk,  who  was  immediately  sworn  to  the  faithful  execu- 
tion of  that  office. 


90 

Voted,  Col.  John  Goffe  Moderator  for  said  Meeting. 
Voted,  that  the  Charter  is  accepted. 

Voted,  that  there  shall  be  five  Selectmen  for  the  present  year. 
Voted,  that  these  shall  be  Selectmen :  Solomon    Hutchinson, 
William   Bradford,   Reuben   Mussey,  Reuben   Gould,  Thomas 
Clark. 

Voted,  a  Committee  to  examine  the  towns  accounts :  William 
Lancy,  Benjamin   Taylor,  Thomas  Wakefield. 
Tythingmen,  David  Hartshorn,  Nathan  Kendall. 
Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  fence-viewers. 
Clerk  of  the  market,  Thomas  Wakefield. 
Deer  keepers,  Joseph  Steel,  Joseph  Prince,  Will  Lancy. 
Field  drivers,  Nathan  Fuller,  Ebenezer  Weston,  Jr.,  James 
Seetown,  James  Rollins. 

Constables,  Ebenezer  Weston,  Joshua  Abbott. 
Surveyors  of  Highways,  James   Seetown,  Ephraim  Abbott, 
Samuel  Stewart,  Andrew  Bradford,  Will  Lancy. 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  shall  be  overseers  of  the  poor  for 
the  present  year. 

Voted,  Surveyor  of  lumber  John  Shepard,  Jr. 
These  officers  were  sworn  on  said  day  to  their  several  ofiices 
by  John  Goffe,  Esq. 


ASSOCIATION  TEST  OF  1776. 

Copied  from  the  original  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State, 
Concord,  Jsf.  H. 

TO    THE    SELECTMEN    OF    AMHERST. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  April  12,  1776. 
In  order  to  carry  the  underwritten  Resolves  of  the  Hon'ble 
Continental  Congress  into  execution.  You  are  requested  to 
desire  all  males  above  Twenty  One  years  of  age  (Lunaticks,  Id- 
iots, and  Negroes  excepted)  to  sign  the  declaration  on  this 
paper:  and  when  so  done,  to  make  return  hereof,  together  with 
the  name  or  names  of  all  who  shall  refuse  to  sign  the  same,  to 
the  General  Assembly  or  Committee  of  Safety  of  this  Colony. 

M.  WEARE,  Chairman. 


91 


In  Congress,  March  14,  1776. 
Resolved,  that  it  be  recommended  to  the  several  assemblies, 
Conventions,  and  Councils,  or  Committees  of  Safety  of  the 
United  Colonies,  immediately  to  cause  all  persons  to  be  dis- 
armed within  their  Respective  Colonies,  who  are  notoriously 
disaffected  to  the  cause  of  America,  or  who  have  not  associated, 
and  refuse  to  associate,  to  defend  by  arms,  the  United  Colonies 
against  the  hostile  attempts  of  the  British  fleets  and  armies. 

Extract  from  the  minutes. 
CHARLES  THOMPSON,  Secretary. 

In  consequence  of  the  above  resolution  of  the  Hon.  Conti- 
nental Congress,  and  to  show  our  determination  in  joining  our 
American  brethren  in  defending  the  Lives,  Liberties,  Properties 
of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  United  Colonies : — 

We,  the  Subscribers,  do  hereby  engage  and  promise,  that  we 
will,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  at  the  risque  of  our  Lives  and 
Fortunes,  with  arms,  oppose  the  Hostile  proceedings  of  the 
British  Fleets  and  Armies,  against  the  United  American  Colonies. 


Nahum  Baldwin, 
Moses  Nichols, 
William  Bradford, 
Josiah  Crosby, 
Peter  Woodbury, 
Thomas  Burns, 
Robert  Means, 
Nathan  Jones, 
Joseph  Boutel, 
Timothy  Smith, 
Thomas  Carell, 
Ephraim  Hildreth, 
Nathan  Kendal, 
Benjamin  Day, 
Reuben  Boutel, 
Ebenezer  Kea, 
Kendal  Boutwel, 
Oliver  Carlton, 
Hezekiah  Lovejoy, 
Enos  Bradford, 


Henry  Codman, 
Peter  Robinson, 
Jon  a.  Smith, 
John  Burns, 
Stephen  Washer, 
Samuel  Harris, 
David  Hildreth, 
Ephraim  Barker, 
Robert  Reade, 
Samuel  Hall, 
Archelaus  Towne, 
Darius  Abbott, 
Joseph  Gould, 
Jona.  Sawyer, 
Samson  Crosby, 


Henry  Kimball, 
William  Low, 
Samuel  Stanley, 
Jona.  Grimes, 
Amos  Flint, 
William  Read, 
Joseph  Steel, 
William  Odell, 
Nathan  Fuller, 
John  Dunklee, 
Amos  Green, 
James  Hartshorn, 
John  Washer, 
David  Green, 
Phineas  Upham, 


Nathl.  Barrett,    [Jr., John  Shepard,  Jun. 
Nathan  Hutchinson,  Simpson  Steward, 
John  Grines,  Samuel  Sterns? 

Israel  Towne,  Jun.,    Dimond  Mussey, 
William  Taylor,         Moses  Barron, 


92 


Thomas  Towne, 
Daniel  Stephens, 
James  Seeton, 
Benjamin  Hopkins, 
Jacob  Curtice, 
Jacob  Curtice,  Jr., 
Jonathan  Taylor, 
Jo  si  ah  Dodge, 
William  Codman, 
Silas  Cummings, 
Thomas  McAl ester, 
Joseph  Steel  Jun., 
Timothy  Nichols, 
Benj.  Hopkins,  Jr. 
Eben'r  Hopkins, 
John  Burns, 
Benj.  Hartshorn, 
John  Seaton, 
Willm.  Wilkins, 
Francis  Lovejoy, 
John  Cochran, 
James  Gillmore, 
Josiah  Sawyer,  Jr., 
Jona.  Twiss, 
Richard  Hughes, 
John  Hartshorn, 
Nathan  Jones,  Jun., 
Amos  Flint,  Jun., 
Saml.  Stratton, 
Nathan  Hutchinson, 
John  Averill, 
William  Lamson, 
John  Cole, 
Isaac  Weston, 
Nathan  Cole, 
Thomas  Towne, 
Joshua  Wright, 
Joshua  Wilkins, 
Thomas  Clarke, 


Jona.  Lund, 
Isaac  Wright, 
Benj.  Kendrick; 
Josiah  Kidder, 
William  Peacock, 
Joseph  Pierce, 
David  Duncklee, 
John  Kendall,  Jun., 
Isaac  How, 
Jacob  Blodgett, 
Adam  Patterson, 
Josiah  Sawyer, 
George  Burns, 
John  Burns,  Jun., 
Joseph  Rollings, 
Isaac  Holt, 
Joseph  Cogin, 
John  Roby, 
John  Twiss, 
James  McKean, 
Thos.  Wakefield,  Jr 
Ebenr.  Holt,  Jun., 
Jona.  Lamson, 
Ephraim  Abbot, 
Moses  Kimball, 
Samuel  Taylor, 
Allen  Goodridge, 
Thos.  Averill,  Jun., 
Francis  Elliott, 
Elisha  Felton, 
Richard  Ward, 
Nathl.  Haseltine, 
Stephen  Farnum, 
William  Wallace, 
Peter  C.  Parker, 
Andrew  Bradford, 
Stephen  Burnham, 
Abner  Hutchinson, 
David  Truel  ? 


Benj.  Merrill, 
Jonathan  Lyon, 
William  Hogg, 
John  Mitchell, 
John  Lovejoy, 
Jacob  Lovejoy, 
Jacob  Hildreth, 
Samuel  Henry, 
John  Patterson, 
Joseph  Prince,  Junr., 
William  Fisk,  Jr., 
William  Fisk, 
Barthl.  Dodge, 
William  Small, 
Joseph  Small, 
William  Small,  Jun,, 
Eben  Hutchinson, 
John  Harwood, 
John  Tuck, 
Willm.  Peabody,  Jr., 
,Jona.  Wilkins,  Jun., 
John  Seccombe, 
Jacob  Standly, 
Willm.  Peabody, 
Joseph  Boutwel, 
Reuben  Holt, 
Michael  Keef, 
Joseph  Prince, 
Abijah  Wilkins, 
Thomas  Weston, 
Jacob  Smith, 
Ezekiel  Upton, 
Nathan  Cleaves, 
Joel  Howe, 
Stephen  Peabody, 
Willm.  Odell,  Jun., 
Ebenr.  Temple, 
Ephraim  French, 
Benjamin  Dodge, 


93 


Lemuel  Winchester,  Israel  Towne, 
Daniel  Smith,  John  Bradford, 

Isaac  Smith, 
Nathan  Flint, 
John  Damon, 
James  Woodbury, 
Benj.  Temple, 
Joseph  Langdell, 


James  Gage, 
WiUm.  Mellendy,  Jr., 
Ebenr.  Weston, 
Richard  Gould, 
Saml.  Blasdell, 
Solomon  Kittredge, 
Timothy  Hill, 
John  Wilkins. 


Joseph  Dunkley, 

Ebenr.  Averill, 

Elisha  Hutchinson, 

Joseph  Farnum, 

Amos  Stickney, 

Joseph  Wallace, 
To  the  Hon'ble  The  Committee  of  Safety,  For  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire,  or  the  General  Assembly  thereof: 

Pursuant  to  the  Eequest  on  this  paper,  from  tlie  Committee 
of  Safety  to  us  directed,  we  have  invited  those  Persons  therein 
named  to  sign  the  Declaration  on  this  paper,  and  all  that  have 
seen  it  have  signed  it  except  Joshua  Atherton,  Esq.,  Mr.  Daniel 
Campbell,  Mr.  Samuel  Dodge,  and  Col.  John  Shepard. 

THOMAS  WAKEFIELD,  1 

REUBEN  MUSSEY,  i^    Selectmen. 

SAMUEL  WILKINS,         J 
It  will  be  remembered  that  at  the  time  this  paper  was  signed 
many  of  the  young,  active  men  of  the  town  were  in  the  army, 
doing  what  the  signers  pledged  themselves  to  do;  hence  their 
names  do  not  appear  on  this  paper. 


COMMITTEES  OF  SAFETY  CHOSEN  BY  THE  TOWN 
DURING  THE  REVOLUTION. 


1776 — Josiah  Crosby, 

William  Bradford, 
Peter  Woodbury, 
Thomas  Burns, 
Robert  Means. 

1777 — Hezekiah  Lovejoy, 
Stephen  Peabody, 
Nathaniel  Howard, 
Josiah  Crosby, 
John  Bradford. 

1778_John  Bradford, 
John  Seaton, 
Hezekiah  Lovejoy, 


Oliver  Carlton, 
Timothy  Smith. 

1779_John  Bradford, 
Oliver  Carlton, 
Hezekiah  Lovejoy, 
James  Hartshorn. 

1780— Robert  Means, 

Hezekiah  Lovejoy, 
Amos  Flint. 

1781 — James  Woodbury, 
William  Peabody, 
William  Hogg, 
WilUam  Bradford,  Jr. 


94 

The  articles  of  confederation  between  the  several  colonies 
were  agreed  to  by  by  the  citizens  of  Amherst  at  a  town-meeting, 
held  January  27,  1778. 

POPULATION  OF  AMHERST. 

May  13,  1747.  Thirty-five  families, — fifty-eight  men  above 
sixteen  years  old.  Whole  population  about  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five. 

In  a  census  taken  in  1767,  the  population  is  classified  as 
follows : 

Boys,  from  16  years  old  and  under,  200 

Unmarried  men  between  16  and  60  years,      63 
Married  men  "  "  135 

Men  above  60  years,  17 

Unmarried  females,  270 

Married  females,  147 

Widows,  18 

Slaves — males,  6  ;  females,  2,  8 


Males,  421 ;  females,  437;  total,  858 

September  13,  1770,  a  portion  of  Monson,  containing  about 
eight  thousand  three  hundred  acres,  with  the  inhabitants  thereon, 
was  annexed  to  Amherst. 

In  1775  the  population,  as  shown  by  a  census  taken  by  order 
of  the  state  authorities,  was  1,428.  The  original  returns  of 
this  census  are  missing. 

In  1790  the  population  by  the  U.  S.  census  was  2,869. 
January  11,  1794,  Milford  was  incorporated:  the  south-west 
parish,  containing  about  80  families,  became  apart  of  that  town. 
In  1800,  by  the  U.  S.  census,  the  population  of  the  first  parish 
was  1470  ;  of  the  north-west  parish,  680 ;  total,  2,150, 

December  15,  1803,  the  town  of  Mont  Vernon,  containing  about 
700  inhabitants,  taken  wholly  from  Amherst,  was  incorporated. 
1810 — United  States  census,  1,554 

1820—  «  "  1,623 

1830—  «  «  1,657 

1840—  «  «  1,565 

1850—  «  «  1,613 

I860—  «  «  1,508 

1870—  «  «  1,353 


OUR   FATHERS  — THEIR   FAITH    AND 
THEIR  PRACTICE  : 


TERI[ITORyiL  HISTOI[Y  OF  THE  FI[}ST  PAp, 

AND  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE 

FIRST  CHURCH   IN  MILFORD,  FORMERLY 
AMHERST. 

BY    WILLIAM    B.    TOWNE. 


After  God  had  carried  us  safe  to  New  England,  and  we  had 
builded  our  houses,  provided  necessaries  for  our  livelihood,  reared 
convenient  places  for  God's  worship,  and  settled  the  civil  gov- 
ernment, one  of  the  next  things  we  longed  for  and  looked  after 
was  to  advance  learning,  and  perpetuate  it  to  posterity*  Such 
was  the  polity  of  the  early  settlers.  With  a  country  poor,  and 
the  people  few  in  number,  we  find  a  college!  established,  and 

*New  England's  First  Fruits,  London,  1643.    Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  I,  p.  242. 

t  In  the  autumn  of  1636,  only  six  years  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  Massachusetts 
colony,  the  General  Court  voted  £400,  equal  to  a  tax  for  one  year  upon  the  entire  set- 
tlement, towards  the  erection  of  a  puttie  school  or  college,  of  which  £200  was  to  be  paid 
the  next  year,  and  £200  when  the  work  was  finished.  In  1638  the  Rev.  John  Harvard,  a 
consumptive,  who  had  been  in  the  country  a  year  or  two,  died,  leaving  £779  17s.  2d.,  one 
half  of  his  estate,  and  his  entire  library,  consisting  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  vol- 
umes, towards  the  erection  of  a  college.  In  that  day  of  small  things  this  bequest  was 
a  large  sum,  and  in  March,  1639,  it  was  ordered  that  the  college  should  be  called  Harvard 
college,  in  honor  of  its  benefactor.  The  first  person  who  had  charge  of  the  institution 
was  Nathaniel  Eaton— a  very  unfortunate  appointment.  He  was  accused  of  ill-treating 
the  students,  of  giving  them  bad  and  scanty  diet,  of  exercising  inhuman  severities 
towards  them,  and  of  beating  his  usher,  Nathaniel  Briscoe,  in  a  most  barbarous  man- 
ner. As  a  result,  the  court  dismissed  him  from  office,  fined  him  one  hundred  marks 
(£66 13s.  4d.),  and  ordered  him  to  pay  £80  to  Briscoe.  He  was  then  excommunicated  by 
the  church  at  Cambridge,  soon  after  which  he  went  to  Virginia,  from  thence  to  England, 
where  he  became  a  violent  persecutor  of  the  Nonconformists,  was  at  length  committed 
to  prison  for  debt,  and  there  ended  his  days.  But  this  misfortune  neither  checked  the 
zeal  nor  dampened  the  ardor  of  the  earnest  men  who  had  the  work  in  charge.  Pierce's 
History  of  Harvard  UniversiUj, 


96 

a  little  later,  an  enactment  "  to  the  end  that  learning  may  not 
be  bulled  in  the  graves  of  our  forefathers,  every  township,  after 
the  Lord  hath  increased  them  to  the  number  of  fifty  house- 
holders, shall  appoint  one  to  teach  all  children  to  write  and 
read ;  and  where  any  town  shall  increase  to  the  number  of  one 
hundred  families,  they  shall  set  up  a  Grammer  school, — the 
masters  thereof  being  able  to  instruct  youth,  so  far  as  they  may 
be  fitted  for  the  University."*  Here  we  have  a  distinct  recog- 
nition of  the  idea  of  education  for  the  whole  people.  In  these 
measures,  says  the  historian, t  "  especially  in  the  laws  establish- 
ing common  schools,  lies  the  secret  of  the  success  and  character 
of  New  England.  Every  child,  as  it  was  born  into  the  world, 
was  lifted  from  the  earth  by  the  genius  of  the  country,  and  in 
the  statutes  of  the  land  received,  as  its  birthright,  a  pledge  of 
the  public  care  of  its  morals  and  its  mind." 

Within  thirty  years  of  their  settlement  we  find  this  people 
surveying  land,  and  laying  out  farms  in  the  valley  of  the  Souhe- 
gan,  regarding  it  as  within  their  province.  And  such  a  conclusion 
was  not  strange.  Gosnold,  Fring,  Waymouth,$  and  Smith, || 
of  Virginia  fame, — an  escaped  Turkish  slave,  whose  life  seems 
to  have  belonged  more  to  a  mythical  age  than  to  that  century, — 
with  others  of  less  celebrity  in  the  mother  country,  had  explored 
the  coast,  its  bays  and  its  rivers  ;  but  of  the  interior  but  little 

*  Colonial  Laws  74, 186. 

t  Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States,  vol.  1,  p.  459. 

X  Wayraouth  entered  the  Penobscot  or  Kennebec  river,  and  in  a  shallop,  brought  in 
pieces  out  of  England,  ascended  not  much  less  than  three  score  miles,  and  kidnapped 
and  carried  away  five  of  the  natives.  "  One,  stailding  before,  carried  our  box  of  mer- 
chandise, as  we  were  wont  when  I  went  to  traffic  with  them,  and  a  platter  of  pease, 
which  meat  they  loved;  but  before  we  were  landed,  one  of  them,  being  so  suspiciously 
fearful  of  his  own  good,  withdrew  himself  into  the  wood.  The  other  two  met  us  on 
the  shore  side  to  receive  the  pease,  with  whom  we  went  up  the  cliff  to  their  fire,  and 
sat  down  with  them;  and  while  we  were  discussing  how  to  catch  the  third  man  that 
was  gone,  I  opened  the  box  and  shew  them  trifles  to  exchange,  thinking  thereby  to 
have  banished  fear  from  the  other,  and  draw  him  to  return.  But  when  we  could  not 
we  used  little  delay,  but  suddenly  laid  hands  upon  them,  and  it  was  as  much  as  five  or 
six  of  us  could  do  to  get  them  into  the  light  horsem.an  (boat);  for  they  were  strong,  and 
so  naked  as  our  best  hold  was  by  their  long  hair  on  their  heads."  Mass.  Hist.  Coll., 
vol.  28,  p.  144-5. 

II  Smith  made  a  rude  map  of  the  coast,  superior,  perhaps,  to  any  that  had  preceded  it, 
and  was  the  first  to  give  the  country  the  name  of  New  England.  He  declared  that 
"  truth  was  more  than  wealth,  and  industi-ious  subjects  more  available  to  a  king  than 
gold." 


9T 

was  known.  The  marvellous  accounts  of  the  explorers,  and  the 
religious  condition  of  the  country  favored  colonization  ;  and  be- 
tween 1621  and  1631,  including  both  years,  there  were  not  less 
than  twenty  charters  granted  for  the  purpose  of  settlement  or 
commerce  on  the  coast  of  New  England  *  The  grant  of  Capt. 
John  Mason,  in  162*2,  extended  on  the  coast  from  where  the  wa- 
ters of  the  jSTaumkeag  discliarge  themselves  into  the  ocean  to 
the  river  Merrimack,  extending  inland  to  the  sources  of  tliese 
streams.  The  same  year  Mason  and  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges 
obtained  a  grant  from  the  Merrimack  to  the  Kennebec  river, 
bounded  by  tlie  ocean,  and  extending  back  to  the  great  river  of 
Canada.  In  1628  Sir  Henry  Roswell  and  others  received  a  grant, 
in  width  from  three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimack  river  to 
three  miles  south  of  the  Charles,  bounded  on  the  Atlantic,  and 
extending  back  to  the  western  ocean ;  and  it  was  under  this 
grant  that  the  Massachusetts  settlers  held  their  possessions. 

The  next  year^  1629,  John  Mason  received  a  grant  extending 
"from  the  middle  of  Piscataqua  river  and  up  the  same  to  the 
farthest  head  thereof,  and  from  thence  north-westward,  until  six- 
ty miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  harbor  were  finished ;  also 
through  Merrimack  river  to  the  farthest  head  thereof,  and  so 
forward  up  into  the  land  westward  until  sixty  miles  were  fin- 
ished ;  and  from  thence  to  cross  overland  to  the  end  of  the  sixty 
miles  accounted  from  the  Piscataqua  river;  together  with  all 
islands  within  five  leagues  of  the  coast."  t  Now  it  is  obvious 
that  grants  so  profuse  and  inconsistent  could  not  all  stand,  and 
out  of  the  two  last  mentioned  grew  the  controversy  between 
New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts,  which  lasted  nearly  a  cen- 
tury, and  was  renowned  for  its  acrimony  and  bitterness.  A 
generation  passed  away,  a  new  generation  took  it  up,  and  thus 
it  was  carried  along  till  terminated  by  royal  authority.  I  have 
already  stated  that  within  thirty  years  of  their  arrival  the  in- 
habitants of  the  Massachusetts  colony  were  surveying  land  and 
laying  out  farms  in  the  valley  of  the  Souhegan.  Within  the 
period  mentioned,  settlements  had  extended  up  to  Groton  and 
Chelmsford.     From  1655  to  1665  the  country  was  at  peace  with 


*  Palfrey's  History  of  New  England,  vol.  1,  pp. 
t  Farmer's  edition  of  Belknap,  p.  8. 

7 


98 

the  aborigines,  and  the  tide  of  population  rolled  onward  rapidly. 
In  addition  to  those  on  the  Souhegan,  grants  were  made  on  both 
sides  of  the  Merrimack  river,  on  the  Nashua  river,  on  Salmon 
brook,  on  Penichuck  pond,  on  Penichuck  brook,  and  in  other 
localities,  and,  with  their  continuance,  the  grantees,  and  those 
who  desired  to  settle  on  the  farms  granted,  felt  the  need  of  the 
privileges  and  immunities  of  an  incorporated  township.  In  ac- 
cordance therewith,  in  1673,  they  petitioned  the  General  Court 
and  were  incorporated,  the  township  being  named  Dunstable,* 
and  deriving  its  name  from  Dunstable  in  England,  some  of  the 
proprietors  being  from  that  place.  It  must  have  been  some- 
thing like  fifteen  miles  from  its  eastern  to  its  western  boundary, 
and  more  than  twelve  miles  from  its  northern  to  its  southern,  as 
it  embraced  the  city  of  Nashua,  the  towns  of  Hudson,  Hollis, 
Tyngsboi-ough,  all  of  Amherst  that  lies  south  of  the  Souhegan, 
all  of  Milford  on  the  same  side  of  that  river,  except .  a  strip  a 
mile  in  width  on  the  west  side  of  the  town,  contiguous  to  the 
towns  of  Wilton  and  Mason,  all  of  Merrimack  on  the  same  side 
of  the  same  river,  most  of  the  town  of  Litchfield,  and  portions 
of  the  towns  of  Londonderry,  Pelham,  Brookline,  Pepperell, 
and  Townsend.  At  this  time  the  north-western  corner  of  the 
county  of  Middlesex,  .Massachusetts,  was  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  Souhegan  river,  a  few  rods  below  the  bridge  recently  erected 
east  of  the  Pine  Valley  Corporation,  and  the  county  maintained 
its  jurisdiction  till  1741,  when  the  boundary  line  between 
Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire  was  determined,  severing 
Dunstable,  and   bringing   about   two   thirds  of  the    township 

*The  following  year  the  plantation  was  surveyed  and  its  boundaries  were  as  follows: 
''  It  lieth  upon  both  sides  Merrimack  river  on  the  Xashua  river.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
south  by  Chelmsford,  by  Groton  line,  and  partly  by  country  land.  The  westerly  line  runs 
due  north  until  you  come  to  Souhegan  river,  to  a  hill  called  Dram-cup  hill,  to  a  great 
pine  near  to  the  said  river  at  the  north-west  corner  of  Charlestown  school  farm,  bound- 
ed by  Souhegan  river  on  the  north ;  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  Merrimack  it  begins  at 
a  great  stone  which  was  supposed  to  be  near  the  north-east  corner  of  Mr.  Bren ton's 
farm,  and  from  thence  it  runs  south-south-east  six  miles  to  a  pine  tree  marked  F,  stand. 
ing  within  sight  of  Beaver  brook ;  thence  it  runs  two  degrees  west  of  south  four  miles 
and  a  quarter,  which  reached  to  the  south  side  of  Henry  Kimball's  farm  at  Jeremie's 
hill ;  thence  from  the  south-east  angle  of  said  farm  it  runs  two  degrees  and  a  quarter 
westward  of  the  south  near  to  the  head  of  the  long  pond  which  lieth  at  the  head  of 
Edward  Col  burn's  farm.  And  thus  it  is  bounded  by  the  said  pond  and  the  head  of  said 
Colburn's  farm,  taking  in  Captain  Scarlett's  farm  so  as  to  close  again;  all  of  which  is 
sufficiently  bounded  and  descrihedi,— Proprietor's  Records. 


99 

within  the  jurisdiction  of  New  Hampshire.  Tliis  was  very  dis- 
tasteful to  many;  nevertheless,  with  the  settlement  of  the  prov- 
ince line  there  was  an  improved  condition  of  things. 

Confidence  was  strengthened,  the  tide  of  settlers  moved  on- 
ward, real  property  was  in  •demand,  and  with  the  increase  of 
population  petitions  were  numerous  for  a  division  of  the  New 
Hampshire  part  of  old  Dunstable.  Accordingly,  in  April,  1746, 
the  legislature  of  New  Hampshire  divided  it,  incorporating  the 
new  town  of  Dunstable,*  also  Hollis,  Merrimack,  and 

MONSON. 

This  last  named  town  embraced  within  its  limits  most  of  the 
present  populous  part  of  Milford  on  the  south  side  of  the  Souhe- 
gan  river,  all  of  Amherst  on  the  same  side  of  that  river,  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  north-west  part  of  Hollis.  Col.  Joseph  Blanchardf 
was  authorized  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  which 
was  held  May  1,  only  thirty  days  after  the  date  of  the  act  of  in- 
corporation. At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  on  the  27th  of  the 
same  month,  Col.  Joseph  Blanchard,  James  Wheeler,  and  Rob- 
ert Colburn  were  chosen  a  committee  "  to  make  the  bound  be- 
tween the  town  of  Hollis  and  the  town  of  Monson."  At  the 
same  meeting  it  was  also  voted  "that  there  be  a  pound  created 
and  built  near  to  the  house  of  William  Nevins  upon  the  most 
convenient  piece  of  ground."  The  following  petition  from  the 
inhabitants  was  presented  to  the  general  assembly  of  New 
Hampshire,  under  date  of  May  13,  1747.  "The  petition  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Monson,  hereto  subscribers,  humbly 

*In  1837  thft  name  was  changed  to  Nashua.  In  1842  the  town  was  divided,  and  the 
north  portion  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Nashville.  In  1853  Nashville  and  Nashua 
were  consolidated  and  chartered  as  the  city  of  Nashua. 

t  Col.  Joseph  Blanchard  was  son  of  Capt.  Joseph  and  Abiah  (Hassell)  Blanchard ;  was 
bornatDanstableFeb.il,  1704;  married  Rebecca  Hubbard;  was  an  accomplished  land 
surveyor,  and  for  several  years  was  agent  of  the  Masonian  proprietors;  was  in  1740,  by 
mandamus,  appointed  one  of  the  councillors  of  New  Hampshire,  which  position  he  sus- 
tained till  his  death;  commanded  a  regimeut  in  the  French  war,  and  was  in  1755  sta- 
tioned at  Fort  Edward,  Washington  county,  New  York,  one  company  of  his  command 
bein''  the  famous  Rogers  rangers ;  was  also  judge  of  the  superior  court  from  1749  to  1758. 
Hedled  April  7,  1758,  and  his  widow  April  17,  1774.  They  had  thirteen  children,  among 
whom  was  Augustus  Blanchard,  Esq.,  who  died  in  Milford  in  1809,  having  been  clerk  of 
the  south-west  parish  ten  years,  town  clerk  for  the  first  ten  years  atter  the  town  was  in- 
corporated, and  a  representative  of  the  town  to  the  general  court. 


100 

sliewetli,  that  the  said  town  is  lately  begun  to  settle,  and  but 
about  fifteen  fiimilies  there ;  that  they  are  one  of  the  frontier 
towns  west  of  IMerrimack  river,  and  the  most  northerly  one  al- 
ready incorporated  lying  between  Hollis  and  the  new  plantation 
called  Souhegan  West;  that  couldftwe  be  assisted  by  soldiers, 
such  competent  number  as  might  enable  lis  to  defend  ourselves, 
shall  cheerfully  endeavor  to  stay  there,  by  which  we  shall  serve 
as  a  barrier  in  part  to  Hollis,  Merrimack,  and  Dunstable  ;  that 
the  last  year  we  were  favored  by  soldiers  from  Massachusetts* 
that  prevented  oiu*  drawing  ofi";  tliat  should  the  war  be  pur- 
sued by  the  enemy  as  vigorously  as  last  year  (unless  w^e  are 
favored  by  some  assistance  from  the  government),  we  humbly 
apprehend  it  would  be  too  great  presumption  to  venture  our- 
selves and  families  there  ;  that  it  will  be  very  ruinous  to  your 
petitioners  to  leave  their  settlements  and  the  frontier  widened, 
and  for  a  necessary  defence  will  require  a  greater  number  of 
soldiers  than  to  assist  us  there.  Wherefore  your  petitioners 
pray  that  a  guard  for  two  garrisons  and  a  small  scout  on  our 
front  may  be  granted  to  us.  James  Wheeler,  William  Nevens, 
William  Colburn,  Robert  Colburn,  Jonathan  Taylor,  Samuel  Le- 
man,  Samuel  Leman,  jr.,  Abraham  Leman,  Thomas  Nevens, 
Benjamin  Hopkins,  Isaac  Farwell,  Step'hen  Haselton,  John 
Burns,  Thomas  Murdow." 

Upon  the  foregoing  petition,  and  a  similar  one  from  Souhegan 
West,  the  assembly  gave  orders  for  enlisting  or  impressing  fif- 
teen good  effective  men,  under  proper  officers,  to  scout  and 
guard  Souhegan  West  and  Monson  till  the  twenty-third  day  of 
October  next  if  need  be,  and  that  said  men  be  shifted  once  a 
month. 

In  1748,  Dunstable,  Merrimack,  Hollis,  Nottingham,  and  Mon- 
son united  in  the  choice  of  a  representative  to  the  general  as- 
sembly, the  session  to  be  holden  at  Portsmouth  on  the  third  day 
of  the  next  January.  The  town  this  year  voted  to  raise  £60 
old  tenor  for  the  use  of  highways,  "one  half  to  be  done  in  June, 
at  twenty  shillings  per  day  for  a  man  and  eight  shillings  per  day 


*It  seems  from  the  tenor  of  this  petition  that  Massachusetts  granted  military  aid  to 
this  infant  settlement  five  years  after  it  had  been  adjudged  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
New  Hampshire. 


101 

for  a  pair  of  oxen  ;  the  other  half  to  be  done  in  September,  at 
fifteen  sliillings  per  day  for  a  man,  and  the  same  price  as  in  June 
for  a  pair  of  oxen." 

In  1749  the  annual  meeting  was  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Nevins.  The  fifth  article  in  the  warrant  was  "to  see  if  the  town 
will  agree  to  tax  the  lands  within  the  whole  township  for  the 
use  of  preaching."  At  the  meeting  the  town  voted  to  dismiss 
this  article.  At  the  same  meeting  a  road  two  rods  wide 
was  laid  out  from  opposite  Souhegan  bridge,  commonly  cnlled 
Lyon's  bridge,=^  up  the  river  through  tlie  farms  of  Madam  Tall- 
er, Col.  Joseph  Blanchard,  genjamin  Hopkins,  and  others.! 

1750.  At  the  annual  meeting  this  year,  Benjamin  Hopkins, 
Robert  Colburn,  and  Nathan  Hutchinson  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  adjust  the  boundary  line  between  Monson  and  HoUis, 
and  the  town  again  declined  to  tax  the  lands  within  the  whole 
township  for  the  support  of  preaching. 

1751.  "  Voted  that  the  road  from  Nathan  Hutchinson's  land 
to  Mr.  Hopkins'  house  be  discontinued,  or  shut  up  for  a  time, 
without  the  inhabitants  please  to  put  up  good  gates  or  good 
handy  bars." 

1753.  At  the  annual  meeting  this  year  the  second  article  in 
the  warrant  was  "to  see  if  the  town  would  raise  a  sum  of  money 
for  a  school ;  the  third,  to  see  if  it  would  tax  the  lands  for  build- 
ing a  meeting-house;  and  the  fourth,  to  raise  money  for  the  sup- 
port of  highways," — all  of  which  articles  were  decided  in  the 
negative.  The  boundary  line  between  the  town  and  Hollis 
seems  not  to  have  been  settled,  as  at  this  meeting  the  matter 
was  referred  to  the  selectmen. 

The  following  petition,  in  substance,  was  presented  to  the 
general  assembly  of  New  Hampshire  by  the  selectmen:  — 
"Whereas,  the  inhabitants  of  Monson  have  received  a  late 
order  to  render  into  the  ofiice  of  the  secretary  of  state  an 
invoice  of  their  polls  and  estates  in  order  for  apportioning  the 

*  In  the  early  settlement  of  the  country  the  bridge  over  the  river  near  the  Amherst 
I'ailroad  station  was  called  Lyon's  bridge,  and  derived  its  name  from  Ebenezor  Lyon, 
who  lived  near  it  as  early  as  1748,  and  who  died  in  1798,  aged  88  years. 

t  Widow  Abagail  Tailer,  of  Boston,  at  this  time  owned  a  farm  of  300  acres  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  East  Milford  railroad  ling  station,  Col.  Joseph  Blanchard  another 
between  that  and  where  the  present  village  in  Milford  is  now  located,  and  Benjamin 
Hopkins  owned  the  Charlestown  school  farm. 


102 

taxes,  which  we  have  done,  and  would  further  beg  leave  to  re- 
monstrate our  infancy  and  inability  to  bear  any  part  of  the  pub- 
lic burden  at  present;  that  there  is  but  thirty-six  polls  in  the 
whole,  several  of  them  being  transiently  hired  to  labor  for  a 
short  space  of  time ;  that  there  are  but  twenty-one  houses,  chief- 
ly small  cottages,  only  for  a  present  shelter,  the  charge  of  build- 
ing yet  to  come ;  that  the  householders  are  all  plain  men, 
dwelling  in  tents,  husbanding  their  employments,  their  im- 
provements very  small,  their  lands  unsubdued,  their  progress 
much  retarded  by  their  necessity  to  work  out  of  town  during 
the  prime  of  the  year,  or  at  other  bq^iness  to  procure  provisions, 
and,  though  the  town  is  a  part  of  old  Dunstable,  it  has  till  now 
been  a  portion  and  remained  a  total  wilderness;  that  till  within 
a  few  years  the  owners  were  under  no  obligation  to  settle  the 
lands  that  were  very  recently  granted  to  gentlemen  in  farms, 
by  which  means  the  few  settlers  are  scattered  all  about  the 
town,  and  that  much  labor  has  and  must  be  spent  in  opening 
and  making  roads,  bridges,  &c.,  that  are  of  present  necessity  a 
burden  too  heavy  for  the  small,  weak  number  that  is  there ;  that 
in  the  late  war  they  were  at  the  expense  of  garrisoning,  scouting, 
and  defending  themselves,  besides  many  other  charges  they 
must  have  and  must  go  through ;  so  therefore  apprehend  them- 
selves utterly  unable  to  bear  any  part  of  the  public  taxes  as  yet; 
but  hope  their  small  beginning  in  time  may  become  useful,  if 
they  may  be  nursed  and  fivored  now  in  their  infancy.  Where- 
fore your  petitioners  pray  that  they  may  be  considered  in  their 
infant  and  chargeable  state,  and  that  they  may  not  be  taxed  till 
they  are  of  ability  to  go  through  their  own  necessary  charge, 
and  when  that  shall  be,  they  will  cheerfully  contribute  accord- 
ing to  their  power." 

1754.  This  year  John  Shepard,^  William  Peabody,  Andrew 
Bradford,  Israel  Towne,  Archelaus  Williams,  Richard  Gould, 
Thomas  Williams,  John  Hutchinson,  John  Edmonds,  and  others, 

*  John  Shepard  then  resided  within  the  present  limits  of  the  village  inMiIlord,onthe 
north  side  of  Souhegan  river,  where  Mr.  John  Marvell  now  lives;  William  Peabody  on 
the  old  Peabody  farm,  farther  up  the  river  on  the  same  t^ide,  late  the  property  of  the 
late  T  T.  Farnsworth  and  Israel  Towne,  within  the  piesent  limits  of  Amheist,  on  the 
farm  owned  by  Abel  and  Frank  AV.  Chase.  Ti)e  prayer  of  the  petitioners  would  have 
annexed  to  Monson  a  strip  of  territory  about  seven  miles  in  length  by  two  in  width, 
and  would  have  included  nearly  the  whole  of  Amherst  plain. 


103 

petitioned  the  governor  and  council  to  be  annexed  to  Monson. 
They  represented  themselves  substantially  as  inhabitants  of  a 
tract  of  land  north  of  and  adjoining  Monson,  lying  within  no  in- 
corporation, town,  or  district;  that  the  town'of  Monson  is  situ- 
ated in  length,  east  and  west,  near  eight  miles,  in  breadth  but 
about  four  miles,  and  is  bounded  on  the  northerly  side  by  Sou- 
hegan  river,  both  sides  of  whicli  river  are  generally  fruitful  and 
profitable  land  for  corn  and  grass  ;  that  if  the  town  of  Monson 
were  enlarged  on  the  north  so  as  to  add  and  include  the  follow- 
ing tract  of  land — beginning  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Monson, 
on  Souhegan  river,  and  running  north  by  the  line  of  Merrimack 
two  miles,  tlien  begin  the  west  station  at  the  nortli-west  corner 
of  Monson  and  run  thence  north  two  miles,  then  in  a  straight 
line  to  tlie  end  of  the  two  miles  first  mentioned — which  would 
be  an  addition  of  about  seven  thousand  acres,  and  w^ould  make 
the  town  about  five  and  one  half  miles  in  width  generally ;  that 
the  said  river  is  small;  that  many  bridges  are  now  and  must 
continue  to  be  kept  in  repair,  so  that  the  river  is  no  incon- 
venience to  this  union ;  that  it  will  be  for  the  accommodation  of 
Monson,  and  that  several  of  the  petitioners  have  for  many 
years  been  settled  here,  and  have  made  their  improvements  at 
heavy  expense ;  that  they  have  not  had  the  benefit  of  any  in- 
corporation in  any  town,  nor  do  they  see  any  present  prospect 
of  incorporation  unless  they  are  annexed  to  Monson. 

1755.  At  the  annual  meeting  this  year  the  question  of  taxing 
the  land  for  building  a  meeting-house  was  again  agitated,  and 
again  decided  in  the  negative. 

1756.  At  this  annual  meeting  the  question  was  again  raised, 
and  again  decided  in  the  negative,  and  an  eifort  to  raise  a  sum 
of  money  for  a  school  part  of  the  year  was  also  decided  in  the 
negative.  Before  the  close  of  the  year,  however,  a  special  meet- 
ing was  called  to  fix  upon  a  place  for  locating  the  meeting-house, 
and  it  was  decided  to  set  it  in  the  most  convenient  place,  near 
the  centre  of  the  town.* 

1758.  The  annual  meeting  this  year  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Archelaus  Towne,  innholder.     The  third  article  in  the  warrant 

♦Tradition  points  to  a  locality  on  the  northerly  slope  of  Duncklee  hill  as  the  place 
fixed  upon,  and  it  still  retains  the  name  of  "  the  meeting-house  lot." 


104 


was  "  to  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  tax  the  lands  of  residents 
and  non-residents  for  building  a  meeting-house,"  which  question 
at  the  meeting  was  decided  in  the  negative.  The  fifth  article 
in  said  warrant  was  "to  see  if  the  town  will  come  into  any 
agreement  with  Capt.  Shepard  concerning  the  one  half  of  his 
bridge,  or  allow  him  some  satisfaction  for  the  same."  On  this 
article  it  was  voted  to  allow  Capt.  Shepard  some  satisfaction  for 
one  half  of  his  bridge,  and  James  Wheeler,  Benjamin  Herrick, 
and  Nathan  Hutchinson  were  chosen  a  committee  to  adjust 
the  matter.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  this  year  it  was  voted  to 
raise  £250  old  tenor  for  the  use  of  highways,  £70  to  pay  Capt. 
Shepard  for  one  half  of  his  bridge  over  the  river  at  his  mill,  and 
£16  to  William  Jones  for  plank  put  on  said  bridge.  The  £250 
for  highways  was  never  raised,  the  inhabitants  at  a  later  meet- 
ing reconsidering  the  vote, 

1759.  The  town  again  voted  not  to  tax  the  lands  for  building 
a  meeting-house.  Chose  William  Jones  and  Josiah  Crosby  to 
inspect  the  deer. 

1760.  Voted  to  petition  the  governor  and  council  of  the 
province  to  set  oifor  annex  the  land  on  the  south  side  of  Mon- 
son  to  Hollis,  and  to  annex  such  part  of  Souhegan  West  to  the 
remainder  of  Monson  as  will  be  sufficient  to  maintain  the  gos- 
pel, and  other  charges  incident  to  towns. 

1761.  Voted  to  raise  £100  old  tenor  to  defray  town  charges ; 
declined  to  tax  the  lands  for  building  a  meeting-house  ;  voted  to 
grant  the  petition  of  Hollis  that  a  mile  and  one  half,  or  there- 
abouts, be  set  off  agreeable  to  the  petition  of  said  Hollis;  and 
dismissed  the  article  relative  to  fixing  a  place  to  locate  the 
meeting-house. 

1763.  Benjamin  Hopkins,  John  Burns,  Joseph  Gould,  John 
Burns,  jr.,  Thomas  Burns,  and  George  Burns,  at  the  annual 
meeting,  protested  against  a  division  of  the  town.  The  voters, 
however,  sustained  their  former  position ;  also,  voted  to  raise 
£300  old  tenor  for  the  support  of  preaching,  each  person  to  pay 
their  money  where  they  hear. 

1764.  Voted  to  sink  the  £300  old  tenor  raised  last  March  for 
the  support  of  preaching.  The  fourth  article  in  the  warrant 
this  year  was  "to  see  if  the  town  would  as^ree  to  build  a  meet- 


105 


ing-house,  and  fix  upon  a  place  to  set  it,"  which  article  was  de- 
cided in  the  negative.  The  fifth  was  "to  see  if  the  town  would 
raise  a  sum  of  money  to  hire  preaching,"  which  was  also  decided 
in  the  negative.  The  sixth  vvas  "to  see  if  the  town  would  raise 
a  sum  of  money  in  order  to  make  satisfaction  to  the  towns  of 
Hollis  and  Amherst  for  the  privilege  of  worshipping  with  them." 
For  this  purpose  it  was  voted  to  raise  £400  old  tenor.  The 
seventh  article  was  '*to  see  if  the  town  woiihl  provide  one  or 
more  burial-places  in  the  town,"  which  article  was  dismissed* 
The  tenth  article  was  "to  see  if  the  town  would  be  at  the  charge 
of  making  another  road  where  Mr.  Benjamin  Hopkins  has  flowed 
the  town  road,  or  take  a  course  of  law  with  him  for  damages." 
Upon  this  article  the  town  voted  to  take  a  course  of  law,  and 
appointed  the  selectmen  to  prosecute  the  suit.  On  the  12th  of 
September  this  year  another  town  meeting  was  held,  at  which 
it  was  voted  to  build  a  meeting-house,  to  petition  the  general 
court  for  a  tax  upon  the  lands  of  residents  and  non-residents  for 
building  the  same,  and  Benjamin  Hopkins,  Nathan  Hutchinson, 
and  Josiah  Crosby  were  chosen  a  committee  to  carry  the  matter 
to  the  general  court. 

1765.  At  the  annual  meeting  this  year  the  fourth  article  in 
the  warrant  was  "to  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  tax  the  lands  of 
residents  and  non-residents  to  build  a  meeting-house  and  settle  a 
minister,  and  if  not,  to  nullify  and  make  void  the  former  vote  for 
that  purpose."  The  proposition  to  erect  a  meeting-house  and 
settle  a  minister  was  not  sustained.  The  town  this  year  voted 
to  raise  £250  old  tenor  to  defray  town  charges. 

1767.  The  town  voted  this  year  that  the  money  raised  in  the 
year  1764,  and  assessed  for  the  towns  of  Hollis  and  Amherst, 
should  not  be  collected. 

1769.  The  town  declined  to  raise  money  for  the  support  of 
highways. 

1770.  On  the  ninth  day  of  April  a  special  meeting  was  called, 
when  it  was  voted  that  the  town  be  divided  between  Hollis  and 
Amherst,  both  of  these  towns  having  assented  to  the  arrange- 
ment. The  division  was  as  follows,  viz.:  Beginning  at  the 
north-east  corner  of  Monson,  and  running  south  by  the  line  of 
Merrimack  two  miles,  then  due  west  to  the  west  line  of  Monson,. 


106 


then  north  to  Souhegan  river,  then  down  said  river  to  the 
bound  first  mentioned  to  be  annexed  to  Amherst,  the  remainder 
to  Hollis.  By  this  arrangement  Amherst  acquired  its  first  ter- 
ritory on  the  south  side  of  the  Souhegan  river.  The  reason 
assigned  for  a  division  in  the  petition  of  Monson^  to  the  govern- 
or and  council  was,  "  that  the  land  in  and  about  the  centre  of 
said  Monson  is  so  very  poor,  barren,  broken,  and  uneven,  as  can- 
not admit  of  many  settlers,  so  that  those  families  that  are  in 
town  are  almost  all  planted  in  the  extreme  parts  of  it.  We 
therefore  conceive  that  if  a  division  were  made,  as  above  men- 
tioned, the  interest  and  good  of  the  people  in  it  would  be  much 
promoted  thereby,  especially  as  we  have  no  prospect  of  ever 
building  a  meeting-house,  in  the  centre  or  elsewhere,  any  way, 
to  accommodate  us,  by  which  difficulty  we  think  the  gospel  will 
not  be  settled  amongst  us  while  in  the  present  situation."  Thus 
was  Monson  blotted  out,  after  an  existence  of  twenty-four  years. 
For   the    last   tAvelve  years    of   her    continuance,  her   annual 


*TOWN  CLERKS  AND  SELECTMEN  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  MONSON. 


1746. 
1747. 

1748. 

1749. 

1750. 

1751. 

1752. 

1753. 

1754. 

1755. 

1756. 

1757. 

1758. 

1759. 

1760. 

1761. 

1762. 

1763. 

1764. 

1765. 

1766. 

1767. 

1768. 

1769. 

1770. 


Town  Clerk. 
Robert  Colburn, 
Kobert  Colburn, 
Eobert  Colburn, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Eobert  Colburn, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Eobert  Colburn, 
Eobert  Colburn, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Benjamin  Kenrick. 
Eobert  Colburn, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
ArchelausTowne, 
Archelaus  Towne, 
Arcbelaus  Towne, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 


First  Selectman. 
Benjamin  Hopkins, 
Benjamin  Hopkins, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Benjamin  Hopkins, 
Benjamin  Hopkins, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Benjamin  Hopkins, 
Benjamin  Hopkins, 
Benjamin  Hopkins, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Robert  Colburn. 
Robert  Colburn, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Eobert  Colburn, 
Benjamin  Kenricic, 
Natban  Hutcbinson 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Benjamin  Hopkins, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 
Archelaus  Towne, 

Archelaus  Towne, 
Archelaus  Towne, 
Benjamin  Kenrick, 


Second  Selectman. 
Robert  Colburn, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Benj.  Hopkins, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Robert  Colburn, 
William  Nevins, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Eobert  Nevins, 
Eobert  Colburn, 
Jolin  Brown, 
Benjamin  Kenrick 
John  Brown, 
Jonathan  Taylor, 
Benj.  Hopkins, 
William  INevins, 

,  William  Nevins, 
Daniel  Kenrick, 
Nat'n  Hutchinson. 
William  Nevins, 
William  Nevins, 
Eobert  Colburn, 
Josiah  Crosby, 
Josepli  Gould, 
William  Nevins, 


TJiird  Selectman, 
William  Nevins. 
William  Nevins. 
Samuel  Leman. 
Samuel  Leman. 
Nathan  Hutchinson. 
Nathan  Hutchinson. 
William  Nevins. 
Benjamin  Farley. 
William  Nevins. 
William  Nevins. 
William  Jones. 
,  John  Brown. 
William  Nevins. 
Thomas  Nevins. 
Benjamin  Kenrick. 
Nathan  Hutchinson" 
Eobert  Colburn. 
Josiah  Crosby. 
William  Nevins. 
Benjamin  Kenrick. 
Nathan  Hutchinson. 
Josiah  Crosby. 
Daniel  Kenrick. 
Thomas  Burns. 
Josiah  Crosby. 


107 

meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of  Archelaus  Towne,*  inn- 
holder. 

She  had  no  public  structure  except  a  pound.  Slie  resolutely 
refused  to  raise  money  for  the  support  of  schools,  and  while  she 
occasionally,  at  a  special  meeting,  voted  in  favor  of  tlie  first 
steps  towards  public  religious  instruction,  at  her  annual  meet- 
ings she  invariably  negatived  such  vote.  A  century  lias  passed 
since  her  demise,  and  but  for  the  recent  tindingt  of  a  portion  of 
her  records,  but  few  persons  of  to-day  would  know  that  she  ever 
existed. 

1771.  The  harmony  that  prevailed  last  year,  when  annexation 
was  so  popular,  was  not  of  long  continuance,  for  in  January  of 
this  year  about  thirty  of  the  most  prominent  of  those  that  were 
last  year  annexed  petitioned  the  governor  and  council  for  a 
division  of  Amherst.  They  recite  in  their  petition, — "  That  the 
town  of  Amherst  is  about  nine  miles  in  length,  by  reason  that 
about  half  the  town  of  Monson  was  of  late  annexed  to  it,  and 
is  capable  of  being  divided  into  two  towns  or  parishes  without 
prejudice  to  or  spoiling  the  same;  that  many  of  us  live  in  that 
part  of  Amherst  which  was  lately  Monson,  and  our  being  an- 
nexed to  said  Amherst  was  contrary  to  our  desire  and  interest ; 
that  vv-e  are  so  remote  from  the  centre  of  Amherst  that  it  is, 
and  ever  will* be,  with  great  expense,  inconvenience,  and  diffi- 
culty to  us  and  our  families  to  attend  public  worship,  by  reason 
of  the  distance ;  that  many  of  our  estates  are  not  so  valuable 
by  reason  of  our  being  annexed  to  Amherst,  for  before  that  our 


*Archelaus  Towne,  son  of  Israel  and  Grace  (Gardner)  Towne,  was  born  at  Topsfield, 
Mass.,  in  1734;  came  to  Souhegan  West  with  his  father  at  the  age  of  about  six  years; 
married  Martha,  born  July  24,  1737,  daugliter  of  Ephraim  Abbott.  They  resided  m 
Monson,  at  what  is  now  known  as  Dauforth's  Corner,  in  Amherst,  where  he  kept  a  tav- 
ern  for  several  years.  They  had  seven  ciiildren.  Ilis  wife  died  in  1773,  after  which  he 
raised  a  company,  took  command  of  it,  joined  the  continental  army,  and  died  at  Fish- 
kill,  N  Y..  in  November,  1779.  He  was  a  man  large  of  stature,  of  great  physical 
strength  and  power  of  endurance,  fond  of  the  hardship  and  e.xcitement  of  Irontier  life, 
a  natural  leader,  and  one  that  commanded  the  confidence  of  his  associates.-xNarrative 
of  Jonathan  Towne,  who  died  at  Milford  Dec.  31, 1842,  in  the  89th  year  of  his  age. 

tThe  Hon  Samuel  T.  Worcester,  of  Nashua,  being  engaged  in  the  preparation  of  an 
article  upon  the  early  history  of  Hollis,  was  informed  by  his  brother,  the  lion.  John  N. 
Worcester,  of  Hollis,  that  there  formerly  existed,  in  the  town  cleiks  ofiice  of  that 
town,  records  relating  to  Monson.  This  led  the  former  to  procure  the  nearly  ^^•orn  out 
volume,  have  what  remained  of  it  bound,  and  put  in  condition  to  prevent  lurther  im- 

mediate  waste. 


108 

situation  was  nigh  the  centre  of  Monson,  and  on  that  account 
purchased  our  lands  at  a  dear  rate,  and  Monson  being  annihi- 
lated, our  situation  is  more  inconvenient  than  before." 

Amherst  followed  with  a  counter  petition,  in  which  it  was 
stated, — "  That  for  more  than  twenty  years  last  past  a  number 
of  persons  living  on  those  lands  lately  known  by  the  name  of 
Monson,  but  more  lately  joined  to  Amherst,  not  having  a  min- 
ister settled  among  them  nor  accommodation  sufficient  for  that 
purpose,  as  they  said,  very  constantly  attended  the  worship  of 
God  with  us  in  said  Amherst,  not  doing  anything  with  us 
towards  our  meeting-house,  nor  towards  the  support  of  our 
minister,  except  some  small  private  donations  made  to  our 
minister.  However,  they  repeatedly  requested  our  town  to 
consent  to  receive  them,  promising  to  meet  at  any  place  that 
the  major  part  of  the  people  should  fix  to  build  a  house  on, 
whereupon  our  town,  after  repeated  solicitations  to  receive 
them,  gave  their  consent.  And  your  excellency  and  honoi*s, 
some  time  in  July  last,  saw  fit  to  aggregate  about  one  half  of 
said  Monson  to  said  Amherst.  Soon  after,  our  town  saw  it  nec- 
essary to  build  a  meeting-house,  and  voted  to  do  it,  our  present 
meeting-house  being  small  and  insufficient  for  the  old  town  and 
said  new  addition.  The  most  of  the  people  of  the  new  addition 
were  present,  and  some  voted  in  the  affirmative,  some  in  the 
negative ;  but  they  began  to  think  that  the  charter  subjected 
them  to  the  same  duties  with  us  of  the  old  town,  that  they 
must  defray  some  part  of  the  charges  of  building  and  so  forth, 
and  not  only  so,  but  must  do  something  towards  supporting 
our  minister.  These  reflections  afiTected  some  of  them  very 
sensibly.  They  had  not  been  acquainted  with  anything  of  the 
kind.  They  were  ready  to  construe  it  as  a  degree  of  persecu- 
tion and  the  like.  And  to  remedy  this  evil  they  are  about  peti- 
tioning to  have  our  town,  as  it  now  lies,  divided  into  two 
parishes,  which  we  think  can  not  be  done  without  a  manifest 
injury  to  more  than  three  quarters  of  the  town.  A  very  consid- 
erable quantity  of  land  in  our  town  is  barren  and  poor,  and  will 
not  admit  of  two  parishes ;  besides,  it  lies  in  such  a  situation  by 
reason  of  a  river  and  hills,  that  the  whole  of  the  people  may 
more  conveniently  meet  at  one  place,  the  place  pitched  upon, 
than  at  any  two  places  in  the  town." 


109 


No  action  was  taken  by  the  state  autliorities  npon  either  of 
these  petitions,  and  quiet  seems  to  liave  been  restored.  The 
new  meeting-house  was  built  and  dedicated,  tlie  worshippers 
gathered  in  tliis  new  sanctuary  from  all  parts  of  the  town,  and 
the  continuous  exercises  of  yesterday  and  to-day,  after  the  lapse 
of  a  century,  are  a  fitting  recognition  of  that  event. 

THE  SOUTH-WEST  PARISH. 

In  the  year  1782  forty-seven  persons,  as  follows,  viz., 


Nathan  Hutchinson, 
Andrew  Bradford, 
Josiah  Crosby, 
Sampson  Crosby, 
James  Gil  man, 
Thomas  Burns, 
Isaac  Abbott, 
Elisha  Hutchinson, 
Benjamin  Hutchinson, 
Josiah  Crosby,  Jr., 
John  Wallace, 
Stephen  Crosby, 
Augustus  Blanchard, 
John  Burns, 
William  Crosby, 
John  Bradford, 
Thaddeus  Grimes, 
Israel  Burnham, 
John  Grimes, 
Nathan  Hutchinson,  Jr., 
Bartholomew  Hutchinson, 
David  Burnham, 
Arthur  Graham, 


William  Wallace, 
Ebenezer  Averill, 
Moses  Averill, 
Joshua  Burnham, 
Stephen  Burnham, 
Jonathan  Hutchinson, 
Abner  Hutchinson, 
AVilliam  Peabody, 
Elijah  Averill, 
Ebenezer  Hopkins, 
Jonathan  Grimes, 
George  Burns, 
William  Grimes, 
Darius  Abbott, 
Samuel  How, 
Jonathan  Towne, 
Henry  Codman, 
William  Melendy, 
Samuel  Dodge, 
Bartholomew  Towne, 
Benjamin  Hopkins,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Con  ant, 
Benjamin  Hopkins,  3d, 


Samuel  Graham, 
were  constituted  the  third  or  south-west  parish  in  Amherst, 
"for  transacting  ministerial  afiairs  only."  The  reason  assigned 
by  the  incorporators  for  the  formation  of  this  parish  was,  that 
their  local  situation  rendered  it  impracticable  for  some  of  them 
and  many  of  their  children  to  give  a  general  attendance  at  the 


110 

stateci  place  of  public  worship,  and,  further,  that  they  conceived 
they  could  well  be  spared,  there  being  about  three  hundred 
ratable  polls  taxed  to  the  first  parish.  There  was  no  boundary 
to  the  new  parish,  neither  were  the  members  exempt  from 
former  obligations,  one  condition  being,  that  nothing  in  its  or- 
ganization should  be  construed  to  exempt  any  of  said  parish- 
ioners, their  polls  or  estates,  from  paying  their  just  proportion  of 
all  ministerial  charges  already  arisen  in  said  town  of  Amherst, 
nor  from  the  future  support,  according  to  contract,  of  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Wilkins,  the  late  minister  of  said  town  then  living.^* 
The  date  of  incorporation  was  November  23,  and  the  first  meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  house  of  Thaddeus  Grimes,  on  the  four- 
teenth day  of  the  next  January.  At  this  meeting  Capt.  Nathan 
Hutchinsonf  was  chosen  moderator;  Augustus  Blanchard,  clerk 
and  treasurer;  Augustus  Blanchard,  Lieut.  Thomas  Burns,  and 
Capt.  John  Bradford,  assessors ;  and  Benjamin  Hutchinson,  col- 
lector ; — and  it  was  "  voted  to  build  a  meetiyg-house  of  the  same 
size  and  bigness  the  north-west  parish  hath  built,  except  the 
porches,"  and  that  Lieut.  Darius  Abbott,  Capt.  Josiah  Crosby, 
and  Capt.  Andrew  Bradford  be  a  committee  to  provide  timber, 
boards,  and  shingles,  and  let  the  same  out  at  public  vendue  to 
the  lowest  bidder."  At  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  parish, 
holden  at  the  house  of  Thaddeus  Grimes,  innholder,  on  the 
fourth  day  of  March,  1783,  it  was  voted  to  raise  £32  4s.  to  dis- 
charge tlie  expense  of  the  parish  being  set  oflf,  £95  to  be  laid 
out  in  purchasing  timber,  boards,  shingles,  and  other  materials 
for  building  the  meeting-house,  £15  to  pay  for  preaching  the 
current  year,  and  that  Capt  Nathan  Hutchinson,  Lieut.  Thomas 
Burns,  and  Capt.  John  Bradford  be  a  committee  to  hire  preach- 
ing.    Later  in  the  same   year  another  meeting  was  called  to 

*The  Rev.  Daniel  Wilkins  at  this  time  was  aged  and  infirm,  had  been  settled  up- 
wards of  forty  years,  and  lived  only  three  months  after  the  formation  of  this  parish, 
dying  February  11, 1783,  in  the  seventy-tbird  year  of  his  age. 

t  Capt.  Nathan  Hutchinson,  a  very  active  and  efficient  man  in  town  and  parish 
affairs,  was  son  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Tarbell)  Hutchinson,  of  Bedford,  Middlesex 
county,  Mass.,  and  married  Rachel  Stearns.  In  1744  he  purchased  of  Benjamin  Hop- 
kins one  hundred  acres  of  land,  near  the  centre  of  the  Charlestown  school  farm,— 
bounded  north  by  the  river,  south  by  the  south  line  of  said  farm,  of  equal  width  at 
each  end,  alNO  bounded  by  a  black  oak  on  Saddle  hill.  He  came  here  from  Billerica 
in  June,  1748,  located  on  Elm  street,  where  E.  D.  Searles  now  resides,  and  died  June  12, 
1795,  aged  78  years.  His  widow  died  on  the  25th  of  July,  in  the  same  year,  aged 
76  years. 


Ill 

make  choice  of  a  place  where  the  meeting-house  should  be 
erected,  and  make  provision  for  clearing  the  same.  After  ad- 
journing from  the  house  of  Mr.  Grimes  to  the  place  regarded  as 
the  most  desirable  location,  it  was  voted  that  the  house  should 
stand  about  twenty  rods  south  of  Sliepard's  bridge,  on  a  rise  of 
ground.  This  vote  would  have  located  the  meeting-house  on 
what  are  now  the  premises  of  Doctor  S.  S.  Stickney.  At  a  meet- 
ing held  still  later  this  year,  Capt.  Nathan  Hutcliinson,  John 
Wallace,  and  John  Burns  were  chosen  a  committee  to  procure 
stone  for  underpinning  the  meeting-house,  and  Joshua  Burnham 
was  authorized  to  purchase  a  "  parish  book." 

At  the  annual  meeting,  holden  March  2,  1784,  it  was  voted  to 
proceed  with  the  meeting-house,  and  to  begin  to  fiame  it  the 
first  Monday  in  June,  and  raise  it  as  soon  as  possible.  Capt. 
Nathan  Hutchinson,  Capt.  Josiah  Crosby,  and  Capt.  Andrew 
Bradford  were  chosen  a  committee  to  see  that  the  meeting-house 
is  framed,  underpinned,  and  raised.  It  was  also  voted  to  raise 
£30  towards  the  expense  of  the  meeting-house — £20  to  pay  for 
preaching;  that  three  shillings  per  day  be  allowed  each  man  for 
work  on  the  meeting-house, — the  laborer  to  board  himself;  and 
that  any  person  who  shall  hereafter  join  the  parish,  shall  be 
exempt  from  any  tax  raised,  to  raise,  board,  and  shingle  the 
meeting-house.  For  some  reason,  not  discernible  at  this  time, 
the  location  that  had  been  fixed  upon  did  not  prove  satisfactory, 
for,  at  a  special  meeting  held  on  the  15th  day  of  June,  it  was 
decided  that  it  should  be  located  about  ten  rods  north-west  from 
the  former  place,  between  two  pitch  pine  stumps;  that  Augustus 
Blanchard,  Lieut.  Thomas  Burns,  Joshua  Burnham,  Capt.  John 
Bradford,  and  Lieut.  Benjamin  Hutchinson,  be  a  committee  to 
carry  on  the  work,  and  that  said  committee  provide  one  barrel  of 
rum,  two  barrels  of  cider,  and  one  quarter  of  sugar  for  the  rais- 
ing. Thus,  it  would  seem  that  the  meeting-house  was  raised  in 
the  summer  of  1784,  for,  on  the  second  day  of  September  of  this 
year,  a  special  meeting  was  called,  and  the  second  article  in  the 
warrant  was  to  see  if  the  parishioners  would  board,  shingle,  or 
finish  any  part  of  the  meeting-house  frame, — wdien  it  was  voted 
to  board  and  shingle  it ;  that  it  be  boarded  with  square  edged 
boards,  and  that  the  boarding  and  shingling  be  let  to  the  lowest 
bidder  at  vendue.    At  the  same  meeting,  it  was  voted  to  raise 


112 

£40  to  defray  the  expense  of  furtliur  finishing  the  meeting-house ; 
and  Lieut  Thomas  Burns  and  Lieut.  Darius  Abbott  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  wait  upon  Governor  Hopkins,  and  get  the  dona- 
tion he  hath  offered  to  procure  the  nails.  It  was  common  amono* 
our  ancestors  in  England,  and  continues  to  the  present  time,  of 
denominating  the  chief  man,  or  the  man  at  the  head  of  promi- 
nent movements  or  establisiniients,  as  the  governor;*  and  the 
title,  in  this  case,  must  have  been  derived  in  this  way.  In 
1659,  the  general  court  of  Massacluisetts  granted  to  the  town 
of  Charlestown  1,000  acres  of  land,  from  the  unappropriated 
lands  of  the  province,  for  the  support  of  a  school.  The  next 
year  it  was  surveyed  by  that  celebrated  land  surveyor,  Jonathan 
Danforth,  of  Billerica,  and  described  thus: — -"Laid  out,  for  the 
use  of  the  school  of  Charlestown,  one  thousand  acres  of  land, 
more  or  less  in  the  wilderness,  on  the  western  side  of  Merrimack 
river,  at  a  place  commonly  called  by  the  Indians,  Sowheaganucke, 
beginning  at  the  foot  of  a  great  hill,  and  so  extending  eastward 
about  two  miles  down  said  river,  and  bounded  by  the  river  on 
the  north,  and  by  land  laid  out  for  Mrs.  Anna  Cole  on  the  east, 
the  wilderness  elsewhere  surrounding  according  to  marked 
trees,  all  of  which  are  sufficiently  bounded  with  C,  and  is  more 
fully  demonstrated  by  a  platt  taken  of  the  same."t  The  title  of 
Indians  was  extinguished  by  deed,  dated  July  14,  1671.|  The 
north-west  corner  of  this  tract  of  land  was  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  river,  a  few  rods  below  the  new  bridofe  at  Jones's  crossinjr, 
and  was  identical  with  the  north-west  corner  of  Old  Dunstable, 
the  north-west  corner  of  Middlesex  county,  Massachusetts,  for 
more  than  sixty  years,  and  the  north-west  corner  of  the  late 
town  of  Monson.  This  tract  extended  down  the  river  to  the 
present  east  line  of  the  farm  of  William  Ramsdell,  and  no  more 
attractive  piece  of  land  of  the  same  magnitude  exists  in  this 
region.  The  town  of  Charlestown  continued  to  own  it  till 
May,  1743,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Benjamin  Hopkins,  of 
Billerica,  for  £375,  and  as  early  as  1745  he  resided  on  it.  A 
saw-mill  is  a  necessity  in  a  new  settlement,  and  he   early  built 

*  The  translators  of  the  Bible  observed  it,  in  James  3:4. 

t  Mass.  General  Court  Records. 

J  Middlesex  County  Registry  of  Deeds. 


118 

one  upon  Whitehall  brook,  a  little  west  of  where  the  house  of 
Moses  Proctor  now  stands ;  and,  if  any  one  will  proceed  into 
the  field,  about  fifty  rods  northerly  of  the  house  of  Luke  Smith, 
to  a  little-point  of  land  on  the  border  of  the  brook,  overlooking 
the  river  and  the  intervale,  and  remove  the  turf,  he  will  occa- 
sionally find  in  the  soil  a  small  piece  of  brick  or  stone  that  has 
once  been  in  a  chimney,  a  wall,  or  a  fire-place,  indicating  that  a 
dwelling  once  stood  there.  It  was  on  this  spot  in  the  wilder- 
ness, with  nothing  to  guide  him  but  marked  trees,  that  Mr. 
Hopkins  erected  his  bullet-proof  dwelling — a  kind  of  fort,  built 
of  timber,  to  protect  himself  and  family  from  the  fierce  beasts  of 
the  forest,  and  fiercer  men.  On  the  north  side  of  the  river  lived 
William  Peabody,  John  Shepard,  and  Israel  Towne ;  on  the 
south  side  his  nearest  neighbor  was  in  the  west  parish  of  Dun- 
stable, now  HoUis;  and  his  oldest  son  married  Anna  Powers, 
the  first  white  child  born  in  that  town.*  Such  is  a  brief  out- 
line of  one  Avho  had,  by  universal  consent,  acquired  the  title  of 
Governor,!  and  who,  after  a  residence  of  upwards  of  forty  years  in 
the  neighborhood,  was  making  a  donation  to  purchase  the  nails 
for  the  new  meeting-house.  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  in  No- 
vember, it  was  voted  to  provide  clapboards,  door-steps,  boards 
for  the  lower  floor,  sashes,  suitable  stuff  for  window-frames, 
and  glass,  and  that  Capt.  Nathan  Hutchinson,  Capt.  William 
Peabody,  and  Capt.  Josiah  Crosby  be  a  committee  to  provide 
tbe  materials  voted,  and  see  that  they  are  delivered  at  the  meet- 
ing-house. 

At  the  annual  meeting  holden  on  the  1st  day  of  March,  1785, 
it  was  voted  to  raise  £50  to  be  laid  out  on  the  meeting-house, 
and  to  raise  £30  to  hire  preaching  and  defray  parish  charges. 
On  the  7th  day  of  the  same  month  there  was  a  special 
meeting  called,  and  the  second  article  in  the  warrant  was  to  see 
if  the  parishioners  will  build  porches  to  the  meeting-house,  or 
let  any  person  or  persons  build  the  same  for  the  ground  the 
same  may  save  in  the  house.  At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to 
build  porches,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  for  that  purpose, 


*  Narrative  of  the  venerable  John  Hopkins  in  1840. 

tHe  died  June  11,  1787,  aged  85  years;  and  his  widow  died  July  30, 1792,  a^ed  93 
years. 


114 

and  instructed  to  have  the  work  done  as  soon  as  the  other  out- 
side work  on  the  house  was  completed.  At  the  same  meeting 
WilUam  Peabody,  Benjamin  Hopkins,  and  Joshua  Burnham 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  hire  preaching  the  current  year. 
At  another  special  meeting,  held  on  the  25th  of  April,  Nathan 
Hutchinson,  Augustus  Blanchard,  and  Thomas  Burns  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  sell  the  pew-ground  in  the  meeting- 
house, at  public  vendue,  to  the  highest  bidder,  and  give  proper 
conveyances  to  the  purchasers,  and  that  the  money  arising  from 
the  sale  be  laid  out  in  further  finishing  the  meeting-house.  It 
was  also  voted  to  put  in  all  the  joist  and  braces  in  the  meet- 
in  f>"-ho  use  not  already  in,  and  that  John  Burns  be  allowed  23 
shillings  lawful  money  for  doing  the  same. 

A  still  further  special  meeting  was  held  on  the  5th  of  Septem- 
ber, when  it  was  voted  to  lay  the  lower  floor,  and  to  let  the 
same  out  at  vendue  to  the  lowest  bidder,  and  it  was  struck  off 
to  Thomas  Boynton  at  thirty-nine  shillings.  Thomas  Burns, 
Nathan  Hutchinson,  and  John  Wallace  were  chosen  a  commit- 
tee to  procure  proper  floor  nails,  see  that  the  sills  were  properly 
underpinned,  and  the  floors  laid  in  a  good  workmanlike  man- 
ner. On  the  25th  day  of  December,  another  special  meeting 
was  held,  when  it  was  decided  to  have  the  sashes,  window- 
frames,  doors,  body  seats,  and  stuff  for  the  body  seats,  put  up  at 
vendue,  to  be  bid  off  by  the  lowest  bidder.  Nathan  Hutchinson, 
Caleb  Jones,  and  Josiah  Crosby  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
vendue  the  work  off,  to  procure  at  the  expense  of  the  parish  all 
the  necessary  materials  for  doing  the  work,  and  to  see  that  it 
was  done  in  a  good  workmanlike  manner, — the  work  to  be  com- 
pleted by  the  first  day  of  next  June.  The  sashes  were  bid  off 
by  Thomas  Boynton,  at  15s.  2d.  old  tenor;  the  window  frames,  by 
David  Chandler  at  8s.  lid. ;  front  door,  by  Benjamin  Conant  at 
20s. ;  the  body  seats  and  stuff  for  the  same,  by  Nathan  Hutch- 
inson. 

A  warrant  was  issued  for  an  annual  meeting  to  be  held  on  the 
7th  day  of  March,  1786 ;  the  fourth  article  therein  being  to  see 
if  the  parishioners  would  finish  the  outside  of  the  meeting-house 
or  any  part  thereof;  and  the  fifth  was  to  see  if  they  would  have 
the  £40,  voted  at  the  last  annual  meeting;  to  be  laid  out  on  the 


115 

meeting-house,  assessed  and  collected ;  but  the  records  contain 
no  reference  to  this  meeting.  There  was,  however,  a  special 
meeting  held  on  the  fourth  of  September  in  this  year,  when  it 
was  voted  to  accept  the  plan  of  Temple  meeting-house  porches 
and  build  in  the  same  form,  and  also  voted  to  procure  glass  and 
glazing  materials  for  the  meeting-house.  At  the  annual  meeting 
in  March,  1787,  there  was  no  allusion  to  the  meeting-house,  but 
£30  was  voted  for  the  support  of  preaching.  At  a  meeting  in 
September  of  this  year,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  get  the  glass 
set,  and  the  sashes  put  in  the  window-frames,  and  £10  was  voted 
to  set  the  front-door  steps,  clear  round  the  meeting-house,  and 
level  the  ground  before  said  house. 

The  year  1788  was  an  eventful  one  in  parish  affairs.  William 
Crosby  gave  the  parish  the  following  described  pieces  of  land, 
viz. :  "  Beginning  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Shepard's  bridge, 
thence  running  southerly  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  leading 
from  said  bridge  to  my  house,*  until  it  comes  to  the  main  road 
that  leads  from  my  house  to  Wilton,  to  a  stake  and  stones ; 
from  thence  westerly  on  the  north  side  of  said  road  about  eight 
rods  to  a  white  oak  stump  ;  thence  northerly  to  a  black  oak 
tree  marked,  standing  on  ^the  bank  of  Souhegan  river;  from 
thence  by  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning,  being  the  land 
the  meeting-house  stands  on.  Also,  one  other  piece,  to  be  ap- 
propriated for  a  burying-ground,  on  the  west  part  of  my  farm, 
bounded  as  follows,  viz. :  Beginning  at  a  large  white  pine  tree 
standing  on  the  bank  of  the  river  a  few  rods  north  of  the  ditch 
bridge  (so  called) ;  from  thence  east  thirteen  rods  to  a  stake 
and  stones;  from  thence  south  twelve  rods  to  a  stake  and 
stones ;  from  thence  west  until  it  comes  to  the  river ;  and  from 
thence  by  the  river  to  the  bound  first  mentioned,  containing 
about  one  acre."  These  were  parts  of  a  tract  of  land  of  500 
acres  granted  in  October,  1659,  by  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  Mrs.  Anna  Cole.  The  record  reads  thus:  "In 
consideration  of  the  liberal  gifts  to  the  country  in   the  will  of 


*The  first  house  erected  on  Union  square-was  raised  in  1783,  was  occupied  early  m 
the  present  century  hy  Dr.  Robert  Fuller,  was  known  for  many  years  as  the  old  Fuller 
house,  stood  where  the  town  hall  now  stands,  and  was  removed  to  make  room  for  that 
structure. 


116 

Capt.  Robert  Keayne,*  the  whole  court  met  together  and  voted," 
&c.  At  the  date  of  the  grant  she  was  the  widow  of  Capt. 
Keayne,  but  the  next  year  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  Cole. 
This  tract  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  river  350  rods,  and 
extended  from  the  west  line  of  the  present  farm  of  Matthias  F. 
Crosby  on  Elm  street  down  the  river,  near  to  the  steam-mill  of 
David  Heald.  In  1780,  Josiah  Crosby,  in  consideration  of  three 
hundred  bushels  of  grain,  two  thirds  Indian  corn  and  one  third 
rye,  purchased  113  acres  in  the  north-east  corner  of  this  tract, 
extending  on  the  river  from  near  the  steam-mill,  before  men- 
tioned, up  a  little  above  the  west  corner  of  the  old  cemetery. 
In  1782  he  sold  the  same  to  his  son  William,  and  in  the  first  of 
these  conveyances  it  is  referred  to  as  part  of  the  tract  belonging 
to  Mather  Byles.f 

*  Robert  Keayne,  merchant  of  London,  came  over  in  the  ship  Defence  in  1635,  aged 
40  years,  with  his  wife  Ann,  aged  33  years,  and  son  Benjamin,  aged  16  years.  He  is 
characterized  by  Winthrop  as  "a  man  of  eminent  parts,  an  ancient  professor  of  the 
gospel,  coming  over  for  its  advancement  and  for  conscience'  sake,  as  wealthy,  given  to 
hospitality,  very  useful  to  the  country,  and  a  large  contributor  to  its  free  schools."  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  and  the  first  captain  of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery 
Company,  was  four  times  a  representative  of  the  town  of  Boston,  and  once  speaker  of 
the  House  of  Deputies.  Notwithstanding  his  virtues  and  usefulness,  he  became  obnox- 
ious on  account  of  selling  dearer  than  the  law  allowed,  for  which  offence,  after  solemn 
trial,  he  was  convicted  and  fined  £250.  His  will  occupies  148  folio  pages  of  the  probate 
records  of  Suffolk  county,  Massachusetts,  in  which  he  vindicates  his  character  with  a 
pathos  indicative  of  a  keen  sense  of  the  injustice  to  which  he  had  been  subjected, 
adding  "  that  though  he  had  suffered  enough  from  the  public  to  tie  up  both  his  hands, 
yet  being  desirous  to  requite  evil  with  good,  and  though  he  cannot  forget,  being  willing 
to  forgive,  and  deeming  it  a  want  of  gratitude  to  God  for  prosperous  men  to  leave  all 
to  wife,  children,  or  relatives,  and  nothing  to  the  public  or  to  charity,"  he  proceeds  to 
give  £1200  to  objects  of  public  use  or  private  charity,  included  in  which  were  £250  to 
Harvard  college. 

t  Mather  Byles  was  born  in  Boston,  March  26, 1706,  and  on  his  mother's  side  was 
descended  from  Richard  Mather  and  John  Cotton  ;  was  graduated  at  Harvard  Univer- 
sity, in  1725,  and  ordained  the  first  pastor  of  Hollis  Street  church  in  1733.  His  first 
wife  was  a  niece  of  Governor  Belcher,  the  second  a  daughter  of  Lieutenant-Governor 
Tailer,  and  it  is  probable  this  land  came  to  him  by  inheritance.  He  continued  his  pas- 
torate till  1776,  when,  on  account  of  disloyalty,  the  connection  was  dissolved  and  never 
renewed.  The  next  year  he  was  denounced  in  town  meeting,  subsequently  tried, 
found  guilty  of  attachment  to  the  royal  cause,  sentenced  to  confinement,  and  with  his 
family  to  be  sent  to  England.  This  sentence  was  never  enforced,  and  he  died  in  Bos- 
ton, July  5, 1788,  having  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Aberdeen  University  in 
1765. 

He  was  distinguished  among  his  contemporaries  for  his  wit,  his  solid  learning,  and 
his  excellent  literary  taste.  Pope,  Lansdowue,  and  Watts  were  his  correspondents,  and 
many  of  his  witticisms  have  come  down  to  us.  On  one  occasion,  when  required  to 
remain  in  his  hausa  under  guard,  he  persuaded  the  sentinel  to  go  on  an  errand  for 


117 

The  month  following  the  gift  of  the  land,  the  parish  voted 
"  to  ceil  round  the  meeting-house  as  high  as  the  windows ;  to 
case,  make,  and  hang  the  end-doors,  lay  the  platforms  for  the 
pews  on  the  lower  floor,  and  case  tlie  lower  windows;"  and  the 
south-west  corner,  from  the  front  to  the  west  door,  including  the 
west  door,  ceiling,  casing,  and  laying  the  platforms,  was  let  to 
Joshua  Burnham  for  39s. ;  the  south-east  corner,  from  the  front 
door  to  the  east  door,  including  the  east  door,  the  ceiliug,  cas- 
ing, and  la3dng  the  platforms,  was  let-  to  Josiah  Crosby  for  41s.; 
from  the  east  door  to  the  west  door  round  the  north  side,  the 
ceiling,  casing,  and  laying  the  platforms  was  let  to  John  Wal- 
lace for  51s.;  the  platforms  for  the  pews  in  the  inside  square  was 
let  to  Jotham  Shepard  for  19s.,  the  work  being  let  by  vendue  to 
the  lowest  bidder,  the  boards  and  nails  for  all  the  work  and  the 
hinges  for  the  doors  to  be  found  by  the  parish.  At  a  special 
meeting  called  in  Septem})er,  the  parish  further  voted  to  finish 
the  whole  meeting-house;  and  Augustus  Blanchard,  Thomas 
Burns,  and  Josiah  Crosby  were  chosen  a  committee  of  tlie  pew- 
ground  in  the  galleries,  and  lay  the  same  before  the  parish  on  the 
29th  inst.,  to  wdiich  time  the  meeting  was  adjourned.  At  the  ad- 
journed meeting,  the  plan  of  the  committee  was  accepted,  and 
they  were  authorized  to  sell  the  pews  at  public  vendue  to  the 
highest  bidder,  and  apply  the  proceeds  to  the  further  finishing  of 
the  house ;  and  as  it  might  be  necessary  to  give  the  committee  fur- 
ther instructions,  the  meeting  adjourned  to  the  13th  of  October. 
At  this  meeting  the  pews  were  sold,  and  the  stuff  and  material 
for  finishing  the  house  "  vendued  "  to  the  following  persons,  they 
being  the  lowest  bidders,  namely,— to  Josiah  Ci-osby,  jr.,  2  M 
laths  at  7s.  each,  and  1  M  feet  merchantable  boards  at  18s.; 
Augustus  Blanchard,  2  hhds.  lime  at  24s.  6d.  each ;  Joseph  Wal- 
lace, 2  M  laths  at  7s.  each;  Stephen  Crosby,  3  M  laths  at  7s., 


him,  promising  to  perform  sontinol's  duty  in  bis  absence.  To  tbe  fireat  amusement  of 
his  neigbbors  be  gravely  marcbed  before  bis  own  door  witb  musket  on  bis  shoulder 
till  bis  keeper  returned,  and  when  inquired  of  in  relation  to  his  occupation,  said  he 
was  guarding  xMatber  Byles.  After  bis  trial,  in  alluding  to  tbe  fact  that  be  bad  been 
put  under  guard,  tbe  guard  removed,  and  then  again  replaced,  he  observed  that  be  had 
been  guarded,  re-guarded  and  disregarded.  In  1780,  on  the  celebrated  dark  day,  a 
lady  who  resided  near  tbe  doctor  sent  her  young  son  to  him  to  know  if  be  could 
account  for  the  uncommon  appearance.  His  reply  was,  "  Give  my  compliments  to 
your  mamma,  and  tell  her  I  am  as  much  in  tbe  dark  as  she  is." 


118 

1  M  feet  boards  at  18s.,  and  2  hhds.  lime  at  24s.  each;  Isaac 
Abbott,  2  M  laths  at  7s.  each,  3  hhds.  lime  at  24s.;  Andrew 
Bradford,  jr.,  1  M  laths,  7s.;  Caleb  Jones,  1  M  feet  1^  in.  white 
pine  boards,  1  M  feet  inch  do. — do.  clear  stuff  for  the  work  in- 
tended; Daniel  Johnson,  1  M  feet  merchantable  boards,  18s.; 
Josiah  Osgood,  1  M  do.,  18s.,  2  corner  girths,  12  by  14  inches ; 
Joshua  Crosby,  one  half  M  white  pine  boards  for  ceiling,  9s. ; 
Jacob  Hale,  500  feet  pine  plank  2  in.  thick  14  in.  wide,  16s. ;  100 
feet  pine  plank,  3  in.  thick,  14  in.  wide,  at  4s. ;  400  slitwork,  3  by 
4  in,  at  8s.,  and  hhd.  lime,  25s.;  hewed  white  pine  timber,  6  by 
7  in.,  suitable  length  for  the  gallery  breast-work,  sills  for  the 
seats  and  studs  at  8s.  6d. ;  Thomas  Burns,  2  hhds.  lime,  25s.  each. 

In  December  the  parish  voted  to  agree  with  Mr.  Thurston  or 
some  other  minister  to  preach  six  months  during  the  year  next 
ensuing. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  in  1789,  it  was  voted  to  raise  £36  to 
pay  for  preaching  and  defray  parish  expenses;  that  twelve  feet 
in  the  front  of  the  gallery  be  appropriated  for  a  pew  for  the 
singers ;  that  ten  pounds  be  laid  out  in  work  round  the  meeting- 
house, "  and  that  John  Burns,  Caleb  Jones,  and  Benjamin 
Conant  be  a  committee  to  see  the  work  done.  In  October  it 
was  voted  to  enlarge  the  singers'  pew,  and  that  it  be  seventeen 
feet,  and  no  longer."  At  the  annual  meeting,  the  next  year,  it 
was  voted  to  build  and  sell  two  pews  of  six  feet  front  each,  at 
each  end  of  the  singers'  pew  in  the  gallery,  and  that  the  pews 
be  built  at  the  expense  of  the  parish. 

In  January,  1791,  at  a  special  meeting,  the  question  of  having 
the  parish  set  off  by  lines  was  agitated,  and  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  treat  Avith  the  first  parish  for  the  following  lines, 
viz., — "Begin  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Ebenezer  Averill's 
land,  and  running  southerly,  including  Andrew  and  John  Brad- 
ford's intact,  William  Peabody's,  the  widow  Shepard,  Jotham 
and  Daniel  Shepard  and  John  Shepard,  Esq.,  until  it  comes  to 
Souhegan  river,  then  down  said  river  to  Merrimack  west  line? 
including  all  belonging  to  Amherst,  on  the  south  side  of  said 
river."  At  the  annual  meeting  this  year,  it  was  voted  to  raise 
£40  to  pay  for  preaching,  and  to  defray  parish  expenses ;  but 
there  was  nothing  in  the  warrant  relative   to  the  parish  being 


119 

"  set  off  by  lines."  In  June,  however,  a  special  meeting  was 
called,  when  not  only  the  question  of  the  parish  being  set  off  by 
lines  was  agitated,  but  the  question  of  being  set  off  as 
a  separate  town  was  considered,  and  it  was  voted  to  petition 
the  General  Court,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  be  set  off  by  lines  or  a 
separate  town  ;  and  a  committee,  consisting  of  Joshua  Burnhara, 
Josiah  Crosby,  Augustus  Blanchard,  Thomas  Burns,  and  Porter 
Lummus,  were  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  £12  appropriat- 
ed to  pay  their  expenses  * 

At  the  annual  meeting,  in  1792,  it  was  voted  to  raise  £60  to 
pay  for  preaching,  and  defray  parish  expenses,  and  in  June,  of 
this  year,  the  parish  was  incorporated,  by  the  name  of  tlie  south- 
west parish,  in  Amherst,  and  boundaries  fixed  thereto.  In 
October,  it  was  voted  to  sell  the  remaining  pews  at  public  ven- 
due, api^ly  the  money  arising  from  such  sale  to  the  painting 
and  further  finishing  the  meeting-house,  and  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  give  a  title  to  the  pews  sold.  At  the  annual  meet- 
ing, the  next  year,  the  parish  voted  to  raise  £55  to  pay  for 
preaching,  and  to  defray  parish  expenses,  and  that  the  funds 
of  former  collectors  be  applied  "to  tlie  farther  finishing  and 
painting  the  meeting-house." 

Tims  vre  see  that  it  took  upwards  of  ten  years  of  continuous 
struggle  for  the  parishioners  to  complete  their  house  of  worsliip, 
— a  struggle  that  we  of  to-day  can  scarcely  comprehend.  Kearly 
forty  years  since,  a  venerable  man  then  living,  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  church  and  an  active  worker  in  this  enterprise,  was 
asked  by  the  speaker  what  year  the  meeting-house  was  com- 
pleted, to  which  he  replied,  "We  scarcely  knew  when  it  was 
completed  ourselves,  for  at  no  time  during  the  work  did  we  have 
any  clear  conception  of  what  would  constitute  a  finished  house. 
We  worshipped  in  Col.  Shepard's  barn,t  and  when  the  meeting- 

*The  parish  not  only  took  this  step  to  be  set  off,  but  in  October,  1793,  voted  to  peti- 
tion the  General  Court  in  conneclion  with  the  mile  slip,  Duxbury  8chool  larm,  and  a 
part  of  Hollis,  to  be  set  oflT  as  a  separate  town,  and  in  Jan.,  1794,  these  several  parcels 
of  territory  were  made  a  separate  town,  and  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Milford. 

t  To  us,  worshiijping  in  the  comfortable  if  not  luxurious  houses  of  to-day,  holding  a 
meeting  in  a  barn  seems  an  absurdity,— yet  an  inquiry  into  the  practices  of  the  early 
settlers  shows  that  this  was  no  uncommon  thing;  and  a  sermon  preached  in  the  barn  of 
Major  Cole,  of  Mont  Vernon,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Coggin,  of  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  upon  the 
importance  of  building  a  meeting-house  in  that  parish,  was  an  effective  instrumentality 
in  accomplishing  that  work. 


120 

house  was  so  far  finished  that  we  could  hold  meetings  in  it,  we 
thought  we  had  accomplished  a  great  work.  We  were  poor,  our 
means  necessarily  limited,  frequently  divided  in  council,  and 
nothing  but  the  privilege,  for  ourselves  and  our  children,  of  wor- 
shipping God  in  his  sanctuary  could  have  held  us  together  and 
induced  us  to  complete  the  work."  Truly  was  it  said  yesterday, 
in  the  excellent  historical  discourse  to  which  most  of  us  listened, 
"  people  do  not  move  into  the  forests,  clear  for  themselves  home- 
steads in  the  solitudes  of  the  wilderness,  and  take  on  themselves 
the  burden  of  building  meeting-houses  and  sustaining  ministers, 
without  deep  convictions  of  the  value  of  the  gospel." 

CHUECH    ORGANIZED. 

The  church  in  this  parish,  denominated  the  third  church  in 
Amherst,  was  organized  by  an  ecclesiastical  counciL  iSTov.  19, 
1788. "^  The  council  consisted  of  Jonathan  Livermore,t  Abiel 
Fiske,!  John  Bruce,||  Moses  Putnam,  Ebenezer  Rockwood,  Rich- 
ard Ward,  Daniel  Mansfield,  and  William  Bradford. 

In  the  proceedings  of  the  council  twelve  persons  are  named 
as  constituting  the  church,  viz. : 


*The  churches  organized  in  Hillsborough  county,  previous  to  the  commeucemeut  of 
the  present  century,  are  as  follows  :— 
Organized. 

IS^ashua,  1685    Wilton, 

Hudson,  1737    Hillsborough, 

Amherst,  1741    GofTstown, 

Litchfield,  1741    Temple, 

Hollis,  1743    Merrimack, 

Pelham,  1751    Mason, 

Lyndeborough,  1757    Francestown, 

New  Ipswich,  1761    Mont  Vernon, 

fRev.  Jonathan  Livermore,  a  native  of  Northborough,  Worcester  county,  Mass., 
born  in  1739,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  college  in  1760;  was  the  first  minister  of 
Wilton,  being  ordained  there  in  1763.  He  sustained  the  pastoral  relation  in  that  place 
about  fifteen  years,  when  he  was  dismissed,  but  did  not  leave  town,  remaining  till  his 
death,  which  occurred  July  20,  1809,  aged  79  years. 

$Ilev.  Abel  Fiske  was  born  at  Tepperell,  Mass.,  May  28,  1752  ;  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  college  in  1774;  taught  the  Grammar  school,  and  studied  divinity  at  Concord, 
Mass.;  was  ordained  at  Wilton  in  November,  1778,  and  was  pastor  of  the  church  till  his 
death,  which  took  place  April  21, 1802,  at  the  age  of  50  years. 

llRev.  John  Bruce,  the  first  minister  in  Mont  Vernon,  was  born  at  Marlborough, 
Mass.,  in  1757;  entered  Dartmouth  college  at  the  age  of  about  twenty  years;  was  gradu- 
ated in  1781 ;  was  settled  in  1785,  and  continued  his  pastorate  till  his  death,  which 
occurred  March  12, 1809. 


ganized. 

Organized, 

1763    Hancock, 

1788 

1769    Milford, 

1788 

1771    Weare, 

1789 

1771    Deering, 

1789 

1772    Greenfield, 

1791 

1772    Brookline, 

1796 

1773    Peterborough, 

1799 

1780 

121 

Stephen  Burnham,  Thomas  Burns, 

Caleb  Jones,  Jonathan  Towne, 

Elisha  Hutchinson,  Benjamin  Conant, 

John  Wallace,  Benjamin  Hutchinson, 

Joseph  Wallace,  William  Melendy, 

Nathan  Hutchinson,  Jonathan  Jones. 

Attached  to  the  covenant  are  seven  additional  names,  viz.: 

James  Wallace,  Letitia  Wallace, 

Hannah  Bradford,  Mary  Wallace, 

Mary  Burnham,  Betsy  Wallace. 
Sarah  Hutchinson, 

The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  William  Crosby  * 
soon  after  the  organization,  when  Elisha  Hutchinson  was  chosen 
Clerk,  whicli  office  he  held  till  his  death.!  At  this  meeting  an 
examining  committee  was  chosen,  and  it  was  decided  that 
applicants  for  admission  might  relate  their  religious  experience 
verbally  or  in  writing,  and  that  no  persons  should  be  admitted 
Avho  would  not  come  up  to  the  standard  of  full  communion. 
The  next  year  several  meetings  were  held,  but  they  related 
solely  to  the  discipline  of  a  member.  Then  follows  a  period  of 
nearly  six  years  in  which  no  meeting  seems  to  have  been  held, 
at  the  expiration  of  which  time  the  church  and  town  concurred 
in  giving  "Mr.  Kiah  Bailey"  a  call,  the  vote  in  the  joint  body 
being    forty-nine    for,  and   thirty  against.     Subsequently,  the 


*  William  Crosby,  the  benefactor  of  the  parish,— whose  house  seems  to  have  been  open 
tor  parish,  church,  and  other  meetings,  whenever  business  vital  to  the  welfare  of  the 
body  politic  was  to  be  considered —Avas  a  descendant  of  Simon  Crosby,  aged  26  years, 
who,  with  his  wife  Ann,  aged  25  years,  and  their  son  Thomas,  aged  8  weeks,  and  came  to 
this  country  in  the  ship  Susan  and  Ellen  in  1635  ("  Founders  of  New  England,"  page  22), 
settled  in  Cambridge,  near  where  Harvard  college  is  now  located,  and  was  the  son  of 
Josiah  and  Sarah  (Fitch)  Crosby,  who  came  here  from  Billerica  in  1753,  and  located  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  road  near  where  the  late  Frederic  Crosby  lived.  He  was  born 
Jan.  29,  1758;  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Shepard;  and  died  esteemed  and 
respected,  May  12,  1P31,  aged  73  years.  His  younger  brother  Asa,  who  was  born  July  15, 
1765,  and  who  died  at  Hanover,  April  12,  1836,  was  the  father  of  Hon.  Nathan  Crosby 
of  Lowell,  Dr.  Josiah  Crosby  of  Manchester,  the  late  Dr.  Dixi  Crosby  of  Hanover, 
Prof.  Alpheus  Crosby  of  Salem,  and  the  late  Prof.  Thomas  Kussell  Crosby  of  llanoyer. 

t  Elisha  Hutchinson,  grandfather  of  the  famous  "Hutchinson  family"  of  vocalists, 
was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Richardson)  Hutchinson  ;  was  born  at  Middleton, 
Essex  county,  Mass.,  Dec.  6, 1751;  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Mary  Buxton 
of  Danvers-  settled  here,  in  1779,  on  the  farm,  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  now  iu 
possession  of  Dodge  G.  Hartshorn,  and  died  Oct.  12, 1800,  aged  49  years. 


122 

town  non-concurred  in  the  movement.  The  next  year,  1796, 
the  chm-ch  and  the  town  concurred  in  giving  Mr.  Phineas  Ran- 
dall a  call  to  settle  with  them  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  but 
Mr.  Randall  did  not  accept.  Then  follows  a  period  of  nearly 
two  years,  when  no  meeting  was  held,  after  which  Rev.  Abel 
Fiske,  of  Wilton,  was  elected  Standing  Moderator,  and  a  com- 
mittee chosen  to  give  information  to  the  members  whenever  a 
church  meeting  should  be  appointed  by  the  moderator.  About 
this  time  the  town  voted,  seventy-six  to  thirty-one,  to  give  Mr. 
Nath'l  H.  Fletcher*  a  call,  but  the  church  did  not  concur.  At  this 
time  the  church  had  been  organized  nearly  ten  years,  but 
its  existence  must  have  been  merely  nominal.  It  could  only 
have  lived  in  name,  as  no  deacons  had  been  chosen,  nor  mem- 
bers admitted  either  by  letter  or  by  the  profession  of  their 
faith,  and  there  is  no  record  indicating  that  a  communion  season 
had  been  observed.  In  March,  1798,  the  question  of  receiving 
members  by  letters  from  other  churches  was  considered,  and  in 
April  it  was  decided  in  the  affirmative,  and  nineteen  members 
w^ere  thus  received,  five  being  from  the  church  in  Amherst,  two 
from  the  second  church  in  Amherst,  six  from  the  church  in 
"Wilton,  three  from  the  church  in  Billerica,  tv/o  from  the  church 
in  Dracut,  and  one  from  the  church  in  Durham.  It  was  also 
voted  at  the  same  meeting  to  have  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  administered  twice  during  the  coming  season,  and  two 
persons  were  appointed  to  wait  on  the  table.  Two  additional 
persons  were  also  chosen  for  the  purpose  of  convei'sing  with 
those  who  should  apply  for  admission,  and  the  moderator  was  in- 
structed to  call  a  meeting  at  any  time,  at  the  request  of 
any  seven  members.  In  August,  1799,  a  meeting  was  held  to 
consider  the  question  of  giving  Mr.  Micah  Stone  a  call,  but  it 


*  Nathaniel  Hill  Fletclier,  son  of  Deacon  Abel  and  Abigail  (Hildreth)  Fletcher,  was 
born  at  Boxborough,  Middlesex  county,  Mass.,  April  16, 1769;  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard University  in  1793;  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  at  Brown  University 
in  1799;  was  settled  at  Wells,  Me.,  in  1800;  was  married  February  8,  1801,  to  Sarah, 
daughter  of  John  Storer,  of  the  same  place;  and,  after  a  ministry  of  27  years,  resigned 
his  pastorate  and  returned  to  Boxborough,  where  he  died  Sept.  4,  1834.  Several  of 
his  sermons  were  published,  among  which  was  one  delivered  at  Deerfield,  in  this  state, 
in  1812,  at  the  ordination  of  Hev.  Nathaniel  Wells;  a  Thanksgiving  sermon,  delivered  in 
Massachusetts,  in  November  of  the  same  year;  one  delivered  at  the  funeral  of  Rev. 
Paul  Coffin,  D.  D.,  of  Buxton,  Me.,  June  8, 1821;  and  one  on  Christian  communion, 
in  1827. 


123 

was  regarded  as  inexpedient.  In  tlie  year  1800  the  cliurch, 
fifteen  of  the  nineteen  members  present,  voted  to  invite  Mr. 
Thomas  Beede  to  become  their  pastor,  and  the  town  concm-red, 
proposing  $566  as  a  settlement  to  be  paid  within  one  year  after 
the  ordination,  an  annual  sahary  of  $383  while  he  supplied  the 
desk,  and  $110  annually  during  his  residence  in  town,  after  he 
should  be  unable  to  supply  the  desk;  and  the  next  year  a 
unanimous  call  of  the  church  was  extended  to  Mr.  Joshua  Lane. 
It  would  be  interesting  at  the  present  time  to  know  what  were 
the  hindrances  to  the  settlement  of  the  various  candidates,  and 
how  the  matter  in  each  case  was  treated  by  the  parties  in  in- 
terest; but  the  records  are  silent  on  the  subject. 

In  March,  1802,  the  church,  nineteen  members  being  present, 
invited  Rev.  Humphrey  Moore  to  settle  with  them  in  the  gospel 
ministry.  The  town  concurred,  in  April,  and  chose  a  commit- 
tee of  fifteen  to  determine  what  settlement  and  salary  was 
proper  to  ofier  Mr.  Moore  for  his  services  in  the  ministry.  This 
committee,  after  the  consideration  of  the  matter  for  one  hour, 
reported  $600  as  a  settlement  to  be  paid,  or  to  become  due  in 
one  year  after  the  ordination,  $400  as  an  annual  salary,  and  a 
gratuity  of  $100  per  annum  while  he  should  remain  their  minister, 
and  be  unable,  through  infirmity  or  old  age,  to  supply  the  desk. 
In  August,  Mr.  Moore  gave  an  answer  in  the  afiirmative,  and 
on  the  13th  day  of  the  following  October  he  was  ordained,  the 
exercises  on  the  occasion  being, — 

1.  Anthem. 

2.  Introductory  Prayer,  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill,  of  Mason. 

3.  Sermon,  Luke  ix,  60,  by  Rev.  Elijah  Dunbar,  of  Peterboro'. 

4.  Ordaining  l^rayer,  by  Rev.  Jacob  Burnap,  of  Merrimack. 

5.  Charge,  by  Rev.  Jeremiah  Barnard,  of  Amherst. 

6.  Concluding  Prayer,  by  Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth,  of  Brook- 
line. 

7.  Benediction  by  the  pastor. 

With  the  settlement  of  the  new  pastor,  a  brighter  day  dawn- 
ed upon  the  church.  The  month  following,  a  confession  of  faith 
was  adopted,  deacons  chosen,*  and  stated  communion  seasons 


*  Moses  Towne  and  Benjamin  French  were  chosen,  neither  of  whom  accepted,  and  at 
the  next  meeting,  holden  in  May,  1803,  John  Wallace  and  William  Lovejoy  were  chosen, 
and  entered  upon  their  duties. 


124 

agreed  upon ;  steps  indicating  faithful,  earnest  work.  At  the 
time  of  the  ordination,  the  church  had  been  in  existence  about 
fourteen  years,  but  had  had  no  additions  except  on  one  occasion, 
and  then  by  letter.  The  subsequent  year  witnessed  the  mem- 
bership doubled,  thirty-two  being  added  on  profession  of  their 
faith,  and  seven  by  letters  from  other  churches. 

Of  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Moore,  extending  over  a  third  part 
of  a  century,  I  need  not  speak.*  It  is  in  part  if  not  in  whole 
within  the  memory  of  many  present.  The  335  additions  to  the 
church  during  his  ministry  testify  to  the  diligence  and  faithful- 
ness of  his  labors,  and  are  evidence  of  consecration  to  his  chosen 
work.  And  in  conclusion,  let  me  add  that,  in  what  I  have  said 
to-day,  I  have  endeavored  to  let  the  fathers  speak  in  their  own 
language,  revealing  their  characters  in  their  own  words,  supply- 
ing no  motives,  and  purposely  abstaining  from  comments,  that 
we  might,  unprejudiced,  commend  what  was  commendable  and 
noble  in  their  lives  ;  and  if,  amid  their  trials,  their  sufferings,  and 
sacrifices,  we  discovered  mistakes  in  method,  what  was  little  in 
character,  or  want  of  devout  affection  for  one  another,  it  might 
be  earnestly  deplored,  and  avoided  in  our  own  experience. 

*Rev.  Humphrey  Moore  was  dismissed  March  9, 1836;  remained  in  the  parish,  and 
died  April  8, 1871,  in  the  93d  year  of  his  age.  The  following  named  pastors  have  suc- 
ceeded him  :— 

Rev.  J.  W.  Salter  was  installed  April  27, 1836;  dismissed  Oct.  24, 1838. 

Rev.  Abner  B.  Warjjer  was  ordained  Feb.  6,  1839;  dismissed  Oct.  27, 1846. 

Rev.  Ltcurgus  P.  Kimball  was  installed  May  19,  1847;  dismissed  Aug.  7, 1849. 

Rev.  E.  N.  Hidden  was  installed  Nov.  21,  1849;  dismissed  April  7,  1858. 

Rev.  S.  C.  Kendall  was  installed  April  7, 1858;  dismissed  Oct.  1.5, 1860. 

Rev.  F.  D.  Ater  was  ordained  May  1, 1861;  dismissed  Sept.  8, 1867. 

Rev.  Geo.  E.  Freeman  was  installed  Dec.  23, 1868;  dismissed  Dec.  14, 1871. 

Rev.  Geokge  Fierce,  Jr.,  was  installed  Oct.  29, 1872. 


yracuse.  n-  ' 


